New Bill Aims to Speed Up Broadband on Federal Lands with Form 299 Tracking Plan

The "Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act" is pretty straightforward: it's all about making it easier to get internet infrastructure built on federal lands. The bill tells the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to come up with a plan—within 180 days—to track Form 299. This form is what companies need to fill out to get permission to put up communications facilities (think cell towers) on land managed by agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service.

Cutting Through the Red Tape

The main goal here is transparency and speed. Right now, it can be a black box for companies applying to install broadband equipment. This bill wants to shed light on where an application stands—accepted, processing, or denied—and cut down on the wait times. The Act defines "communications use" as putting up and running a "communications facility," which itself is defined under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (section 6409(d)). It also spells out which land is covered: "public lands" (managed by the BLM, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Bureau of Reclamation) and the "National Forest System" (defined in the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, section 11(a)).

Real-World Rollout

Imagine a small internet provider trying to expand service in a rural area. They need to put up a new tower, and part of the best location is on federal land. They file Form 299. Under this new law, the government has to develop a system to track that application's progress, so the provider isn't left guessing. This could mean faster approval, which means those rural customers get better internet sooner. Section 2 of the bill specifically requires this plan to "increase transparency for applicants with respect to the acceptance, processing, and disposal of a Form 299." The bill also mandates identifying "obstacles that may hinder" the speedy processing of these forms. It's not just about tracking; it's about actively making things more efficient.

Potential Roadblocks

While the intent is good, the bill's success hinges on the plan itself. A poorly designed tracking system could just add another layer of bureaucracy. It will be important to see if the plan prioritizes efficiency and doesn't just create more paperwork. Also, the definitions are crucial. Making sure that "communications facility" is interpreted broadly enough to include future technologies will be key to long-term success. If the definition is too narrow, we could end up needing another bill down the road to cover new types of broadband infrastructure.