Public Lands Telecommunications Act

Communications site— The term “communications site” means an area of Federal lands available for communications use.

Communications use— The term “communications use” means the placement or operation of infrastructure for wireline or wireless telecommunications, including cable television, television, and radio communications, regardless of whether such placement or operation is pursuant to a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or on an unlicensed basis in accordance with the regulations of the Commission. The term includes any ancillary activities, uses, or facilities directly related to such placement or operation.

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 lands for communications use.

Federal land management agency— The term “Federal land management agency” means the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service.

Federal lands— The term “Federal lands” means lands under the jurisdiction and management of a Federal land management agency.

Rental fee— The term “rental fee” means any fee collected by a Federal land management agency related to the occupancy and use authorized by a communications use authorization pursuant to and consistent with authorizing law.

Special account required— The Secretary of the Treasury shall establish a special account in the Treasury for each Federal land management agency for the deposit of rental fees received by a Federal land management agency for communications use authorizations on Federal lands granted, issued, or executed by the Federal land management agency.

Competitively neutral— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any rental fees collected pursuant to this Act shall be imposed on a competitively neutral, technology-neutral, and nondiscriminatory basis with respect to other uses of the communication site.

Deposit and Retention of rental fees— Rental fees received by a Federal land management agency shall—

Expenditure of retained fees— Amounts deposited in the special account for a Federal land management agency shall be used for Federal land management agency activities related to communications sites, including the following:

No effect on other fee retention authorities— This Act shall not limit or otherwise affect fee retention by a Federal land management agency under any other authority.

Department of the interior— The Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the activities described in section 3(d).

Forest service— The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the activities described in section 3(d).