HR 3307 United States House · 118th Congress

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2023

The Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2023 creates a voluntary program allowing states and federally recognized tribes to handle environmental reviews for broadband projects on federal lands. It enables states and tribes to enter memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with federal agencies to assume responsibility for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews required before installing rural broadband infrastructure on National Forest System land, Interior Department-managed land, or Indian Lands. Under the MOUs, states/tribes would manage the environmental reviews, maintain financial resources, and be legally liable for their work, while still complying with federal environmental standards. This aims to speed up broadband deployment in rural areas by reducing federal agency review timelines, directly affecting broadband providers seeking permits on federal lands.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2023

Committee Review

Floor Vote

President

Introduced May 15, 2023 Last action Jun 1, 2023

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Committee

Jun 1, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

lower

May 15, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.

lower

May 15, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors