---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8452"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8452"
heading: "Broadband internet connectivity at developed recreation sites"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8452"
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"
---

# §8452. Broadband internet connectivity at developed recreation sites

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Chief of the Forest Service shall enter into an agreement with the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Commerce to foster the installation or construction of broadband internet infrastructure at developed recreation sites on [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) to establish broadband internet connectivity—
  - (1) subject to the availability of appropriations; and
  - (2) in accordance with applicable law.
- (b) **Identification—** Not later than 3 years after January 4, 2025, and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2031, the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Chief of the Forest Service, in coordination with [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and local communities, shall make publicly available—
  - (1) a list of the highest priority developed recreation sites, as determined under [subsection (c)](#c), on [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) that lack broadband internet;
  - (2) to the extent practicable, an estimate of—
    - (A) the cost to equip each of those sites with broadband internet infrastructure; and
    - (B) the annual cost to operate that infrastructure; and
  - (3) a list of potential—
    - (A) barriers to operating the infrastructure described in [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A); and
    - (B) methods to recover the costs of that operation.
- (c) **Priorities—** In selecting developed recreation sites for the list described in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Chief of the Forest Service shall give priority to developed recreation sites—
  - (1) at which broadband internet infrastructure has not been constructed due to—
    - (A) geographic challenges; or
    - (B) the location having an insufficient number of nearby permanent residents, despite high seasonal or daily visitation levels; or
  - (2) that are located in an economically distressed county that could benefit significantly from developing the outdoor recreation economy of the county.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 142, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2864.)