H.R. 6503

119 HR 6503 IH: Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-12-09
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 6503  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   December 9, 2025   Mr. Fulcher  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 provide that certain communications projects are not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act  .
2.
Application of NEPA and NHPA to certain communications projects
(a)
In general
(1)
NEPA exemption
A Federal authorization with respect to a covered project may not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ).
(2)
National Historic Preservation Act exemption
A covered project may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code.
(b)
Grant of easement on Federal property
(1)
NEPA exemption
A Federal authorization with respect to a covered easement for a communications facility may not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ), if—
(A)
a covered easement has previously been granted for another communications facility or a utility facility with respect to the same building or other property owned by the Federal Government; or
(B)
the covered easement is for a communications facility in a public right-of-way.
(2)
National Historic Preservation Act exemption
A covered easement for a communications facility may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code, if—
(A)
a covered easement has previously been granted for another communications facility or a utility facility with respect to the same building or other property owned by the Federal Government; or
(B)
the covered easement is for a communications facility in a public right-of-way.
(c)
Requests for modification of certain existing wireless and wireline communications facilities
Section 6409(a)(3) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1455(a)(3) ) is amended to read as follows:
(3)
Application of NEPA; NHPA
(A)
NEPA exemption
A Federal authorization with respect to an eligible facilities request or an eligible wireline communications facilities request may not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ).
(B)
National Historic Preservation Act exemption
An eligible facilities request or an eligible wireline communications facilities request may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code.
(C)
Federal authorization defined
In this paragraph, the term  Federal authorization —
(i)
means any authorization required under Federal law with respect to an eligible facilities request or an eligible wireline communications facilities request; and
(ii)
includes any permits, special use authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may be required under Federal law with respect to an eligible facilities request or an eligible wireline communications facilities request.
 .
3.
Presumption with respect to certain complete FCC forms
(a)
Presumption
With respect to a project that is an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code, as determined by the Commission, if an Indian Tribe is shown to have received a complete FCC Form 620 or FCC Form 621 (or any successor form), or can be reasonably expected to have received a complete FCC Form 620 or FCC Form 621 (or any successor form), and has not acted on a request contained in such complete form by the date that is 45 days after the date of such receipt or reasonably expected receipt—
(1)
the Commission and a court of competent jurisdiction (as the case may be) shall presume the applicant with respect to such complete form has made a good faith effort to provide the information reasonably necessary for such Indian Tribe to ascertain whether historic properties of religious or cultural significance to such Indian Tribe may be affected by the undertaking related to such complete form; and
(2)
such Indian Tribe shall be presumed to have disclaimed interest in such undertaking.
(b)
Overcoming presumption
(1)
In general
An Indian Tribe may overcome a presumption under subsection (a) upon making, to the Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction, a favorable demonstration with respect to 1 or more of the factors described in paragraph (2).
(2)
Factors considered
In making a determination regarding a presumption under subsection (a), the Commission or court of competent jurisdiction shall give substantial weight to—
(A)
whether the applicant with respect to the relevant complete form failed to make a reasonable attempt to follow up with the applicable Indian Tribe not earlier than 30 days, and not later than 50 days, after the applicant submitted a complete FCC Form 620 or FCC Form 621 (as the case may be) to such Indian Tribe; and
(B)
whether the regulations of the Commission, or FCC Form 620 or FCC Form 621, are found to be in violation of a Nationwide Programmatic Agreement of the Commission.
4.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act may be construed to affect the obligation of the Commission to evaluate radiofrequency exposure under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ).
5.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Chief Executive
The term  Chief Executive  means the person who is the Chief, Chairman, Governor, President, or similar executive official of an Indian tribal government.
(2)
Commission
The term  Commission  means the Federal Communications Commission.
(3)
Communications facility
The term  communications facility  has the meaning given the term  communications facility installation  in section 6409(d) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1455(d) ).
(4)
Covered easement
The term  covered easement  means an easement, right-of-way, or lease with respect to a building or other property owned by the Federal Government, excluding Tribal land held in trust by the Federal Government (unless the Indian tribal government with respect to 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 or a utility facility.
(5)
Covered project
The term  covered project  means any of the following:
(A)
A project—
(i)
for—
(I)
the mounting or installation of a personal wireless service facility with another personal wireless service facility that exists at the time at which a request for authorization of such mounting or installation is submitted to a State or local government or instrumentality thereof or to an Indian tribal government; or
(II)
the modification of a personal wireless service facility; and
(ii)
for which a permit, license, or approval from the Commission is required or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
(B)
A project—
(i)
for the placement, construction, or modification of a facility for communication by wire in or on eligible support infrastructure; and
(ii)
for which a permit, license, or approval from the Commission is required or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
(C)
A project to deploy a small personal wireless service facility.
(D)
A project—
(i)
for the deployment or modification of a communications facility that is to be carried out entirely within a floodplain (as defined in section 9.4 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act); and
(ii)
for which a permit, license, or approval from the Commission is required or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
(E)
A project—
(i)
for the deployment or modification of a communications facility that is to be carried out entirely within a brownfield site (as defined in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 )); and
(ii)
for which a permit, license, or approval from the Commission is required or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
(F)
A project to permanently remove covered communications equipment or services (as defined in section 9 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1608 )) and to replace such covered communications equipment or services with communications equipment or services (as defined in such section) that are not covered communications equipment or services (as so defined).
(G)
A project that—
(i)
is to be carried out entirely within an area for which the President, the Governor of a State, or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government has declared a major disaster or an emergency;
(ii)
is to be carried out not later than 5 years after the date on which the President, Governor, or Chief Executive made such declaration; and
(iii)
replaces a communications facility damaged by such disaster or emergency or makes improvements to a communications facility in such area that could reasonably be considered as necessary for recovery from such disaster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate any future disaster or emergency.
(H)
A project for the placement and installation of a new communications facility if—
(i)
such new facility—
(I)
will be located within a public right-of-way; and
(II)
is not more than 50 feet tall or 10 feet taller than any existing structure in the public right-of-way, whichever is higher;
(ii)
such 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 by regulation), the existing communications facility that such new communications facility is replacing;
(iii)
such new facility is a type of communications facility that—
(I)
is described in section 6409(d)(1)(B) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1455(d)(1)(B) ); and
(II)
meets the size limitation of a small antenna established by the Commission; or
(iv)
the placement and installation of such new facility involves the expansion of the site of an existing communications facility not more than 30 feet in any direction.
(I)
A project for the placement, construction, or modification of a personal wireless service facility on an existing tower, building, or structure.
(J)
A project for the placement, construction, or modification of a communications facility—
(i)
for which the placement, construction, or modification is undertaken pursuant to a geographic area license that has been issued by the Commission or is subject to licensing by rule; and
(ii)
with respect to which filing in the antenna structure registration system of the Commission is not required.
(6)
Eligible support infrastructure
The term  eligible support infrastructure  means infrastructure that supports or houses a facility for communication by wire (or that is designed for or capable of supporting or housing such a facility) at the time when a request to a State or local government or instrumentality thereof, or to an Indian tribal government, for authorization to place, construct, or modify a facility for communication by wire in or on the infrastructure is submitted to the government or instrumentality.
(7)
Emergency
The term  emergency  means—
(A)
in the case of an emergency declared by the President, an emergency declared by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5191 ); and
(B)
in the case of an emergency declared by the Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government, any occasion or instance with respect to which the Governor or Chief Executive declares that an emergency exists (or makes a similar declaration) under State or Tribal law (as the case may be).
(8)
Federal authorization
The term  Federal authorization —
(A)
means any authorization required under Federal law with respect to a covered project or a covered easement; and
(B)
includes any permits, special use authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may be required under Federal law with respect to a covered project or a covered easement.
(9)
Governor
The term  Governor  means the chief executive of any State.
(10)
Indian tribal government
The term  Indian tribal government  means the governing body of an Indian Tribe.
(11)
Indian Tribe
The term  Indian Tribe  has the meaning given the term  Indian tribe  under section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 5130 ).
(12)
Major disaster
The term  major disaster  means—
(A)
in the case of a major disaster declared by the President, a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 ); and
(B)
in the case of a major disaster declared by the Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government, any occasion or instance with respect to which the Governor or Chief Executive declares that a disaster exists (or makes a similar declaration) under State or Tribal law (as the case may be).
(13)
Personal wireless service facility
The term  personal wireless service facility  has the meaning given such term in subparagraph (G) of section 332(c)(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7) ), as amended by this Act.
(14)
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 (whether currently or previously used in such manner); 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).
(15)
Small personal wireless service facility
The term  small personal wireless service facility  has the meaning given such term in subparagraph (G) of section 332(c)(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7) ), as amended by this Act.
(16)
State
The term  State  means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the United States.
(17)
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.