I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 2298
To ensure that certain broadband projects are not subject to requirements
to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH24, 2025
Mr. F
ULCHERintroduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To ensure that certain broadband projects are not subject
to requirements to prepare certain environmental or his-
torical preservation reviews, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reducing Barriers for 4
Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025’’. 5
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SEC. 2. EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN BROADBAND 1
PROJECTS. 2
(a) NEPA E
XEMPTION.—The issuance of a Federal 3
authorization with respect to a broadband project carried 4
out in a right-of-way may not be considered a major Fed-5
eral action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Envi-6
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). 7
(b) N
ATIONALHISTORICPRESERVATIONACTEX-8
EMPTION.—A broadband project carried out in a right- 9
of-way may not be considered an undertaking under sec-10
tion 300320 of title 54, United States Code. 11
(c) D
EFINITIONS.—In this section: 12
(1) B
ROADBAND PROJECT .—The term 13
‘‘broadband project’’ means an installation, by a 14
broadband provider on Federal land, of wireline or 15
wireless broadband infrastructure that enables a 16
user to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, 17
graphics, and video telecommunications, including 18
copper lines, fiber optic lines, communications tow-19
ers, buildings, or other improvements. 20
(2) B
ROADBAND PROVIDER .—The term 21
‘‘broadband provider’’ means a provider of wireline 22
or wireless broadband infrastructure that enables a 23
user to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, 24
graphics, and video telecommunications. 25
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(3) FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION .—The term 1
‘‘Federal authorization’’— 2
(A) means any authorization required 3
under Federal law with respect to a project; 4
and 5
(B) includes any permits, special use au-6
thorizations, certifications, opinions, or other 7
approvals as may be required under Federal law 8
with respect to a project. 9
(4) R
IGHT-OF-WAY.—The term ‘‘right-of- 10
way’’— 11
(A) means— 12
(i) the area on, below, or above a 13
roadway, highway, street, sidewalk, alley, 14
or similar property (whether currently or 15
previously used in such manner); and 16
(ii) any land immediately adjacent to 17
and contiguous with property described in 18
clause (i) that is within the right-of-way 19
grant; and 20
(B) does not include a portion of the Inter-21
state System (as such term is defined in section 22
101(a) of title 23, United States Code). 23
Æ
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