[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2018 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 306
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2018

                          [Report No. 118-154]

 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 15, 2023

  Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. King, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Lee, Mrs. Hyde-
 Smith, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Lujan) introduced the following bill; which 
  was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                               Resources

                            January 9, 2024

               Reported by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Connect Our Parks 
Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE AND CELLULAR SERVICE 
              ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING IN NATIONAL PARKS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                Resources of the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the Committee on Natural Resources of 
                the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
                of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) National park.--The term ``National Park'' 
        means a unit of the National Park System that is designated as 
        a National Park.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the 
        National Park Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Assessment.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an 
        assessment of National Parks to identify--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) 1 or more locations in each National 
                Park in which there is the greatest need for broadband 
                internet access service, based on the considerations 
                described in paragraph (2)(A); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) 1 or more areas in each National Park 
                in which there is the greatest need for cellular 
                service, based on the considerations described in 
                paragraph (2)(B).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Considerations.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) housing;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) administrative facilities and 
                        related structures;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) campgrounds; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) 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.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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 area within the National Park that would 
                increase--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the access of the public to 
                        emergency services; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the communications 
                        capabilities of National Park Service 
                        employees.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Plan.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 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)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) to install broadband internet access 
                service infrastructure in certain locations in National 
                Parks; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) to install cellular service equipment 
                and infrastructure in certain areas of National 
                Parks.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Consultation.--In developing the plan under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) shall consult with local stakeholders 
                that the superintendent of the applicable National Park 
                determines to be necessary; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) may consult with the superintendents 
                of any of the National Parks regarding plan development 
                methodologies.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Requirements.--The plan developed under 
        paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) provide for--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) minimal viewshed 
                        impacts;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) minimal disruptions to the 
                        land; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) minimal disruptions to 
                        wildlife;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) provide for the use of public-private 
                partnerships--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) to install broadband internet 
                        access service or cellular service equipment; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) to provide broadband internet 
                        access service or cellular service;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) be technology neutral; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) in the case of broadband internet 
                access service, provide for broadband internet access 
                service of at least--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) a 100-Mbps downstream 
                        transmission capacity; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) a 20-Mbps upstream 
                        transmission capacity.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>

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.
                                                       Calendar No. 306

118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2018

                          [Report No. 118-154]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            January 9, 2024

                       Reported with an amendment