Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025”.
Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025
A BILL
To ensure that certain broadband projects are not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Exemptions for certain broadband projects
NEPA exemption— The issuance of a Federal authorization with respect to a broadband project carried out in a right-of-way may not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
National Historic Preservation Act exemption— A broadband project carried out in a right-of-way may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code.
Definitions— In this section:
Broadband project— The term broadband project means an installation, by a broadband provider on Federal land, of wireline or wireless broadband infrastructure that enables a user to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications, including copper lines, fiber optic lines, communications towers, buildings, or other improvements.
Broadband provider— The term broadband provider means a provider of wireline or wireless broadband infrastructure that enables a user to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications.
Federal authorization— The term Federal authorization—
means any authorization required under Federal law with respect to a project; and
includes any permits, special use authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may be required under Federal law with respect to a project.
Right-of-way— The term right-of-way—
means—
the area on, below, or above a roadway, highway, street, sidewalk, alley, or similar property (whether currently or previously used in such manner); and
any land immediately adjacent to and contiguous with property described in clause (i) that is within the right-of-way grant; and
does not include a portion of the Interstate System (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code).