[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5919 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5919

 To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to 
  identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest 
need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks 
in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 11, 2023

                Mr. Curtis introduced the following bill

                            October 25, 2023

             Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to 
  identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest 
need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks 
in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Connect Our Parks Act''.

SEC. 2. BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE AND CELLULAR SERVICE 
              ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING IN NATIONAL PARKS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (2) Broadband internet access service.--The term 
        ``broadband internet access service'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations 
        (or a successor regulation).
            (3) Cellular service.--The term ``cellular service'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 22.99 of title 47, Code 
        of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
            (4) National park.--The term ``National Park'' means a unit 
        of the National Park System.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.
    (b) Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an 
        assessment of National Parks to identify--
                    (A) locations in National Parks in which there is 
                the greatest need for broadband internet access 
                service, based on the considerations described in 
                paragraph (2)(A); and
                    (B) areas in National Parks in which there is the 
                greatest need for cellular service, based on the 
                considerations described in paragraph (2)(B).
            (2) Considerations.--
                    (A) Broadband internet access service.--For 
                purposes of identifying locations in National Parks 
                under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider, 
                with respect to each National Park, the availability of 
                broadband internet access service in--
                            (i) housing;
                            (ii) administrative facilities and related 
                        structures;
                            (iii) lodging;
                            (iv) developed campgrounds; and
                            (v) any other location within the National 
                        Park in which broadband internet access service 
                        is determined to be necessary by the 
                        superintendent of the National Park.
                    (B) Cellular service.--For purposes of identifying 
                areas in National Parks under paragraph (1)(B), the 
                Secretary shall consider, with respect to each National 
                Park, the availability of cellular service in any 
                developed area within the National Park that would 
                increase--
                            (i) the access of the public to emergency 
                        services and traveler information technologies; 
                        or
                            (ii) the communications capabilities of 
                        National Park Service employees.
            (3) Report.--On completion of the assessment under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress, and make available on the website of 
        the Department of the Interior, a report describing the results 
        of the assessment.
    (c) Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a plan, 
        based on the results of the assessment completed under 
        subsection (b) and subject to paragraph (4)--
                    (A) to install broadband internet access service 
                infrastructure in certain locations in National Parks; 
                and
                    (B) to install cellular service equipment and 
                infrastructure in certain areas of National Parks.
            (2) Consultation.--In developing the plan under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
                    (A) affected Indian Tribes; and
                    (B) local stakeholders that the superintendent of 
                the applicable National Park determines to be 
                appropriate.
            (3) Requirements.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) provide for avoiding or minimizing impacts to--
                            (i) National Park viewsheds;
                            (ii) cultural and natural resources;
                            (iii) the visitor experience;
                            (iv) other resources or values of the 
                        National Park; and
                            (v) historic properties and the viewsheds 
                        of historic properties;
                    (B) provide for infrastructure providing broadband 
                internet access service or cellular service to be 
                located in--
                            (i) previously disturbed or developed 
                        areas; or
                            (ii) areas zoned for uses that would 
                        support the infrastructure;
                    (C) provide for the use of public-private 
                partnerships--
                            (i) to install broadband internet access 
                        service or cellular service equipment; and
                            (ii) to provide broadband internet access 
                        service or cellular service;
                    (D) be technology neutral; and
                    (E) in the case of broadband internet access 
                service, provide for broadband internet access service 
                of at least--
                            (i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission 
                        capacity; and
                            (ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission 
                        capacity.
            (4) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a plan 
        developed under that paragraph shall not be required to address 
        broadband internet access service or cellular service in any 
        National Park with respect to which the superintendent of the 
        National Park determines that there is adequate access to 
        broadband internet access service or cellular service, as 
        applicable.
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