Ensuring timely review of broadband land use authorizations

(a)

Study and report

(1)

Study

The Secretaries concerned shall each conduct, with respect to the relevant covered department, a study to determine—(A)if there are programmatic or administrative barriers to the timely review of requests for broadband land use authorizations;(B)if there are revisions to rules or regulations that could be implemented to improve efficiency with respect to reviewing requests for broadband land use authorizations; and(C)if there are processes for prioritizing the review of requests for broadband land use authorizations.(2)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that—(A)describes the results of the studies conducted under paragraph (1), including any barriers, revisions, or processes identified under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of such paragraph; and(B)includes a plan for providing, with respect to the organizational units of the relevant covered departments, the staffing necessary to ensure timely review of broadband land use authorizations.(b)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means the—(A)Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and(B)Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Environment and Public Works of the Senate. (2)

Broadband land use authorization

The term broadband land use authorization means an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or other authorization—(A)provided by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture;(B)to locate or modify a communications facility on covered land; and(C)for the primary purpose of authorizing the occupancy and use of such covered land for communications use.(3)

Communications facility

The term communications facility has the meaning given the term communications facility installation in section 6409(d) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455(d)).(4)

Communications use

The term communications use means the placement and operation of a communications facility.(5)

Covered land

The term covered land means—(A)public lands; and(B)National Forest System land.(6)

National Forest System

The term National Forest System has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).(7)

Organizational unit

The term organizational unit means—(A)with respect to the Department of the Interior—(i)a State office of the Bureau of Land Management;(ii)a district office of the Bureau of Land Management; or(iii)a field office of the Bureau of Land Management; and(B)with respect to the Department of Agriculture—(i)a regional office of the Forest Service;(ii)a management unit of the Forest Service; or(iii)a ranger district office of the Forest Service.(8)

Public lands

The term public lands has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).(9)

Relevant covered department

The term relevant covered department means—(A)with respect to the Secretary of the Interior, the Department of the Interior; and(B)with respect to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture.(10)

Secretaries concerned

The term Secretaries concerned means—(A)the Secretary of the Interior; and(B)the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.