U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) on May 2 sponsored legislation that would streamline the permitting process for communications infrastructure on National Forest System lands.
“Regulations and red tape are making it harder for us to deploy broadband in rural America,” Rep. Johnson said. “My bill will reduce unnecessary red tape so we can get more and better service across our country.”
The Facilitating Optimal and Rapid Expansion and Siting of Telecommunications (FOREST) Act, H.R. 8230, was introduced by Rep. Johnson and cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). The bill would grant exemptions from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for a communications facility or communications use authorization on National Forest System lands if it is an upgrade or addition to existing infrastructure, or if the U.S. Forest Service has already conducted the appropriate environmental and historical preservation reviews, according to a bill summary.
If enacted, H.R. 8230 also would allow the U.S. Forest Service to waive the consultation requirements under NEPA and NHPA for a communications use authorization on previously analyzed areas of National Forest System lands, and would streamline the NEPA permitting process by allowing broadband infrastructure to be built on land that has already gone through the appropriate reviews as it pertains to the National Forest System, the summary says.
The measure is supported by USTelecom and NCTA – The Internet and Television Association.