---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8451"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8451"
heading: "Connect our parks"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8451"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter I — Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure"
  - "Part D — Broadband Connectivity on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters"
---

# §8451. Connect our 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)” means a [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System.
  - (5) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7)” means the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service.
- (b) **Assessment—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after January 4, 2025, the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) shall complete an assessment of National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) to identify—
    - (A) locations in National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service, based on the considerations described in [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A); and
    - (B) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, based on the considerations described in [paragraph (2)(B)](#b-2-B).
  - (2) **Considerations—**
    - (A) **Broadband internet access service—** For purposes of identifying locations in National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) under [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A), the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) shall consider, with respect to each National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in which broadband internet access service is determined to be necessary by the superintendent of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
    - (B) **Cellular service—** For purposes of identifying [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) under [paragraph (1)(B)](#b-1-B), the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) shall consider, with respect to each National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), the availability of cellular service in any developed [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) within the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) that would increase—
      - (i) the access of the public to emergency services and traveler information technologies; or
      - (ii) the communications capabilities of National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service employees.
  - (3) **Report—** On completion of the assessment under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) 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 January 4, 2025, the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) shall develop a plan, based on the results of the assessment completed under [subsection (b)](#b) and subject to [paragraph (4)](#c-4)—
    - (A) to install broadband internet access service infrastructure in certain locations in National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and
    - (B) to install cellular service equipment and infrastructure in certain [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of National [Parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
  - (2) **Consultation—** In developing the plan under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) shall consult with—
    - (A) affected [Indian Tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g); and
    - (B) local stakeholders that the superintendent of the applicable National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) determines to be appropriate.
  - (3) **Requirements—** The plan developed under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall—
    - (A) provide for avoiding or minimizing impacts to—
      - (i) National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) viewsheds;
      - (ii) cultural and natural resources;
      - (iii) the visitor experience;
      - (iv) historic properties and the viewsheds of historic properties; and
      - (v) other resources or values of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
    - (B) provide for infrastructure providing broadband internet access service or cellular service to be located in—
      - (i) previously disturbed or developed [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); or
      - (ii) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) 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)](#c-1), a plan developed under that paragraph shall not be required to address broadband internet access service or cellular service in any National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) with respect to which the superintendent of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) determines that there is adequate access to broadband internet access service or cellular service, as applicable.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 141, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2862.)