S. 2018 – Connect Our Parks Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 9:01 AM UTC

The Connect Our Parks Act requires the Interior Secretary, through the National Park Service, to evaluate which areas of all U.S. national parks most need broadband internet and cellular service, and then create a plan to provide that infrastructure while protecting park resources. The assessment must be finished within one year of enactment and the implementation plan within three years, with input from tribes and local stakeholders.

Key Provisions

Within one year, the Secretary must complete an assessment identifying park locations with the greatest need for broadband internet and cellular service, considering housing, administrative facilities, lodging, campgrounds, emergency access, and staff communications needs.
The assessment results must be reported to the designated congressional committees and posted on the Department of the Interior’s website.
Within three years, the Secretary must develop a plan to install broadband (minimum 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream) and cellular infrastructure in the identified areas, using public‑private partnerships and locating equipment in already disturbed or appropriately zoned sites.
The plan must consult affected Indian tribes and local stakeholders and must avoid or minimize impacts to viewsheds, cultural and natural resources, visitor experience, historic properties, and other park values.
Parks where the superintendent determines that adequate broadband or cellular service already exists are exempt from the planning requirement.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 19, 2024 • 6:05 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 15, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

June 15, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-284.

National Parks Subcommittee

June 21, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

September 21, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-154.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 9, 2024

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 306.

January 9, 2024

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7145; text: CR S7148-7149)

December 18, 2024

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 19, 2024

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 19, 2024 • 5:26 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 19, 2024 • 6:05 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 2018 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Dec 18, 2024

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 595, S. 3123; Calendar No. 644, S. 5125; Calendar No. 306,…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 18, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2018

AN ACT

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.

Passed the Senate December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.

Secretary