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H.R. 6488House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2020

Sponsored by John ShimkusRep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
Introduced April 10, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:49 AM UTC

The Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2020 would change the Communications Act so the FCC does not have to conduct National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews for many small or replacement broadband facilities. It aims to speed up the placement of antennas and related equipment, especially in public rights‑of‑way, by removing certain environmental paperwork requirements. The rule applies to wireless and wireline providers that meet the size and location limits set in the bill.

Key Provisions

  • Exempts the FCC from NEPA and related environmental reviews when a new communications facility is placed in a public right‑of‑way and is no taller than 50 feet (or no more than 10 feet higher than any existing structure there).
  • Provides an exemption for facilities that are direct replacements of existing ones and are substantially the same as the equipment they replace.
  • Allows exemption for small‑antenna type facilities that meet size limits defined by the FCC.
  • Exempts expansions of an existing site that extend the footprint by 30 feet or less in any direction.
  • Stops the need for NEPA review when a federal easement is granted for a communications facility if a similar easement already exists on the same federal property.
  • Keeps other obligations intact, such as FCC’s duty to evaluate radio‑frequency exposure and state or local zoning authority.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee 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.

Energy and Commerce Committee

April 10, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 10, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee 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.

Energy and Commerce Committee

April 10, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 10, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6488

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 10, 2020

Mr. Shimkus introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 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 amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that the Federal Communications Commission is not required to perform any review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, as a condition of permitting the placement and installation of a communications facility, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2020.

2.

Exemption from review for certain communications facilities

Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

14.

Exemption from review for certain communications facilities

(a)

For permitting by Commission

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any provision of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, the Commission shall not be required to perform, and may not require any entity regulated by the Commission to perform, any review under such Act or division as a condition of permitting the placement and installation of a communications facility if—

(A)

the new facility—

(i)

will be located within a public right-of-way; and

(ii)

is not more than 50 feet tall or 10 feet higher than any existing structure in the public right-of-way, whichever is higher;

(B)

the new facility is—

(i)

a replacement for an existing communications facility; and

(ii)

the same as, or substantially similar to (as such term is defined by the Commission), the communications facility that the new communications facility is replacing;

(C)

the new facility is a type of communications facility that—

(i)

is described in subsection (c)(2)(B); and

(ii)

meets the size limitation of a small antenna established by the Commission; or

(D)

the placement and installation involve the expansion of the site of an existing facility not more than 30 feet in any direction.

(2)

Savings clause

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect—

(A)

the obligation of the Commission to evaluate radiofrequency exposure under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);

(B)

except as explicitly provided in this subsection, the obligation of any provider of a communications service to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code;

(C)

the authority of a State or local government to apply and enforce the zoning and other land use regulations of the State or local government to the extent consistent with this subsection and sections 253, 332(c)(7), and 621; or

(D)

the authority or obligations established under section 20156(e) of title 49, United States Code.

(b)

For grant of easement on Federal property

No review shall be required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, as a condition of granting a covered easement for a communications facility if a covered easement has been granted for another communications facility or a utility facility with respect to the same building or other property owned by the Federal Government.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Antenna

The term antenna means communications equipment that transmits or receives electromagnetic radio frequency signals used in the provision of wireless services.

(2)

Communications facility

The term communications facility includes—

(A)

any infrastructure, including any transmitting device, tower, or support structure, and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabinets, associated with the licensed or permitted unlicensed wireless or wireline transmission of writings, signs, signals, data, images, pictures, and sounds of all kinds; and

(B)

any antenna or apparatus—

(i)

that is designed for the purpose of emitting or receiving radio frequency;

(ii)

that—

(I)

is designed to be operated, or is operating, from a fixed location pursuant to authorization by the Commission; or

(II)

is using duly authorized devices that do not require individual licenses; and

(iii)

that is added to a tower, building, support pole, or other structure.

(3)

Covered easement

The term covered easement means an easement, right-of-way, or lease to, in, over, or on a building or other property owned by the Federal Government, excluding tribal land held in trust by the Federal Government (unless the tribal government of such land requests that the Commission not exclude the land for purposes of this definition), for the right to install, construct, modify, or maintain a communications facility.

(4)

Public right-of-way

The term public right-of-way—

(A)

means—

(i)

the area on, below, or above a public roadway, highway, street, sidewalk, alley, or similar property; and

(ii)

any land immediately adjacent to and contiguous with property described in clause (i) that is within the right-of-way grant; and

(B)

does not include a portion of the Interstate System (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code).

(5)

Support Pole

The term support pole means an upright pole or structure used or capable of being used to support a wireless service facility.

(6)

Utility facility

The term utility facility means any privately, publicly, or cooperatively owned line, facility, or system for producing, transmitting, or distributing power, electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude products, water, steam, waste, storm water not connected with highway drainage, or any other similar commodity, including any fire or police signal system or street lighting system, that directly or indirectly serves the public.

(7)

Wireless service

The term wireless service means the transmission by radio communication of voice, video, or data communications services, including Internet Protocol or any successor protocol-enabled services, or any combination of those services, whether provided on a licensed or permitted unlicensed basis.

(8)

Wireless service facility

The term wireless service facility means a facility for the provision of wireless service.

.