H.R. 5919 – Connect Our Parks Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 12:14 PM UTC

The Connect Our Parks Act directs the Interior Secretary, via the National Park Service, to assess where broadband internet and cellular service are most needed across the National Park System and to develop a plan to provide that service. The assessment must be completed within one year, and a detailed implementation plan must be ready within three years. The goal is to improve visitor safety, access to information, and staff communications while protecting park resources.

Key Provisions

Complete a nationwide assessment of each national park to identify locations with the greatest need for broadband and cellular service within one year.
Consider broadband availability in housing, administrative facilities, lodging, campgrounds, and any site the park superintendent deems necessary; consider cellular availability in developed areas that would enhance emergency services or staff communications.
Submit the assessment results to the appropriate congressional committees and post them on the Department of the Interior’s website.
Develop, within three years, a plan to install broadband and cellular infrastructure, consulting affected Indian tribes and local stakeholders.
Require the plan to avoid or minimize impacts to viewsheds, cultural and natural resources, visitor experience, historic properties, and to use previously disturbed or appropriately zoned areas.
Set a minimum broadband speed of 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream, allow public‑private partnerships, and exempt parks that already have adequate service.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

October 25, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 11, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

October 25, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 25, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5919

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 11, 2023

Mr. Curtis introduced the following bill

October 25, 2023

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Connect Our Parks Act.

2.

Broadband internet access service and cellular service assessment and planning in National Parks

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A)

the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;

(B)

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

(C)

the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(D)

the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Broadband Internet Access Service

The term broadband internet access service has the meaning given the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).

(3)

Cellular service

The term cellular service has the meaning given the term in section 22.99 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).

(4)

National Park

The term National Park means a unit of the National Park System.

(5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.

(b)

Assessment

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an assessment of National Parks to identify—

(A)

locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service, based on the considerations described in paragraph (2)(A); and

(B)

areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service, based on the considerations described in paragraph (2)(B).

(2)

Considerations

(A)

Broadband internet access service

For purposes of identifying locations in National Parks under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider, with respect to each National Park, the availability of broadband internet access service in—

(i)

housing;

(ii)

administrative facilities and related structures;

(iii)

lodging;

(iv)

developed campgrounds; and

(v)

any other location within the National Park in which broadband internet access service is determined to be necessary by the superintendent of the National Park.

(B)

Cellular service

For purposes of identifying areas in National Parks under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall consider, with respect to each National Park, the availability of cellular service in any developed area within the National Park that would increase—

(i)

the access of the public to emergency services and traveler information technologies; or

(ii)

the communications capabilities of National Park Service employees.

(3)

Report

On completion of the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available on the website of the Department of the Interior, a report describing the results of the assessment.

(c)

Plan

(1)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a plan, based on the results of the assessment completed under subsection (b) and subject to paragraph (4)—

(A)

to install broadband internet access service infrastructure in certain locations in National Parks; and

(B)

to install cellular service equipment and infrastructure in certain areas of National Parks.

(2)

Consultation

In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with—

(A)

affected Indian Tribes; and

(B)

local stakeholders that the superintendent of the applicable National Park determines to be appropriate.

(3)

Requirements

The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

provide for avoiding or minimizing impacts to—

(i)

National Park viewsheds;

(ii)

cultural and natural resources;

(iii)

the visitor experience;

(iv)

other resources or values of the National Park; and

(v)

historic properties and the viewsheds of historic properties;

(B)

provide for infrastructure providing broadband internet access service or cellular service to be located in—

(i)

previously disturbed or developed areas; or

(ii)

areas zoned for uses that would support the infrastructure;

(C)

provide for the use of public-private partnerships—

(i)

to install broadband internet access service or cellular service equipment; and

(ii)

to provide broadband internet access service or cellular service;

(D)

be technology neutral; and

(E)

in the case of broadband internet access service, provide for broadband internet access service of at least—

(i)

a 100–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and

(ii)

a 20–Mbps upstream transmission capacity.

(4)

Limitation

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a plan developed under that paragraph shall not be required to address broadband internet access service or cellular service in any National Park with respect to which the superintendent of the National Park determines that there is adequate access to broadband internet access service or cellular service, as applicable.