<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><BillSummaries>
    <item congress="118" measure-type="s" measure-number="2018" measure-id="id118s2018" originChamber="SENATE" orig-publish-date="2024-12-18" update-date="2025-08-26">
        <title>Connect Our Parks Act</title>
        <summary summary-id="id118s2018v55" currentChamber="SENATE" update-date="2025-08-26">
            <action-date>2024-12-18</action-date>
            <action-desc>Passed Senate</action-desc>
            <summary-text><![CDATA[<p><strong>Connect Our Parks Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the National Park Service (NPS) to assess locations within the National Park System with the greatest need for broadband internet or cellular service, and to develop a plan for the placement of broadband and cellular infrastructure in parks.&nbsp;</p><p>In assessing where broadband service is most needed, the NPS must consider the current availability of broadband in housing, lodging, administrative facilities, developed campgrounds, and other areas within each park. In assessing where cellular service is most needed, the NPS must consider locations where the availability of cellular service in a developed area of a park would increase public access to emergency services and traveler information or the communications capabilities of NPS employees. The NPS must complete the assessment within one year of the bill’s enactment.&nbsp;</p><p>Further, within three years of the bill's enactment, the NPS must develop a plan based on the results of the assessment to install broadband and cellular service infrastructure at locations within the National Park System. In developing the plan, the NPS must consult with affected tribes and local stakeholders.&nbsp;</p><p>The plan must (1) be technology neutral; (2) provide for infrastructure to be located in previously developed areas or areas zoned for uses that would support infrastructure; and (3) avoid or minimize impacts to cultural and natural resources, the visitor experience, and park viewsheds. The plan must also provide for the use of public-private partnerships for the installation of equipment and provision of broadband or cellular service.</p>]]></summary-text>
        </summary>
    </item>
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        <dc:language>EN</dc:language>
        <dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
        <dc:contributor>Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress</dc:contributor>
        <dc:description>This file contains bill summaries for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.</dc:description>
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</BillSummaries>
