[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2702-S2703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 583. Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and Ms. Lummis) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

[[Page S2703]]

  


     SEC. ___. STREAMLINING PERMITTING PROCESS FOR REPLACING 
                   COVERED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Communications facility.--The term ``communications 
     facility'' includes--
       (A) any infrastructure, including any transmitting device, 
     tower, or support structure, and any equipment, switches, 
     wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabinets, 
     associated with the licensed or permitted unlicensed wireless 
     or wireline transmission of writings, signs, signals, data, 
     images, pictures, and sounds of all kinds; and
       (B) any antenna or apparatus that--
       (i) is designed for the purpose of emitting radio 
     frequency;
       (ii)(I) is designed to be operated, or is operating, from a 
     fixed location pursuant to authorization by the Federal 
     Communications Commission; or
       (II) is using duly authorized devices that do not require 
     individual licenses; and
       (iii) is added to a tower, building, pole, cable, or other 
     structure.
       (2) Communications use authorization.--The term 
     ``communications use authorization'' means a right-of-way, 
     permit, or lease granted, issued, or executed by a Federal 
     land management agency for the primary purpose of authorizing 
     the occupancy and use of Federal land for the construction, 
     placement, and operation of a communications facility.
       (3) Covered communications equipment or services.--The term 
     ``covered communications equipment or services'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 9 of the Secure and Trusted 
     Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1608).
       (4) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means land 
     under the jurisdiction and management of a Federal land 
     management agency.
       (5) Federal land management agency.--The term ``Federal 
     land management agency'' means--
       (A) the National Park Service;
       (B) the Bureau of Land Management;
       (C) the Bureau of Reclamation;
       (D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
       (E) the Forest Service.
       (6) Previously disturbed federal land.--The term 
     ``previously disturbed Federal land'', in the case of an 
     application for a communications use authorization, means 
     Federal land with respect to which a communications use 
     authorization has been granted for a substantially similar 
     use.
       (7) Secure and trusted communications networks 
     reimbursement program.--The term ``Secure and Trusted 
     Communications Networks Reimbursement Program'' means the 
     program established under section 4(a) of the Secure and 
     Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 
     1603(a)).
       (b) Previously Disturbed Rights-of-way Exemption.--No 
     review shall be required under the National Environmental 
     Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or division A of 
     subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, as a condition 
     of granting a communications use authorization for the 
     occupancy and use of previously disturbed Federal land in 
     order to replace covered communications equipment or services 
     using a reimbursement under the Secure and Trusted 
     Communications Networks Reimbursement Program.
       (c) Wireless Facility Modifications.--Section 6409(a) of 
     the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 
     U.S.C. 1455(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
                                 ______