The "Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act" mandates reports on the establishment of online portals for processing communications use authorizations on public lands.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Representative
IA-1
The "Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act" requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to report on the establishment of online portals by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture for processing Form 299, which pertains to communications use authorization on public lands. The report must identify any barriers to creating these portals. The relevant Secretary must notify the Assistant Secretary within 3 business days after establishing an online portal.
Feds Push for Online Portal to Speed Up Communications Infrastructure: New Bill Mandates 60-Day Progress Reports
The "Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act" aims to drag some federal paperwork into the 21st century, specifically targeting how companies apply to install communications equipment on public lands. Right now, it's all done with a paper form – Form 299. This bill wants that process online, ASAP.
Digital Deadline
The core of the bill is about getting the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to set up online portals for handling Form 299. This form is crucial for companies wanting to install things like cell towers on public and National Forest System lands. The bill mandates the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to report to Congress every 60 days on whether these portals are up and running. If there are any roadblocks, they need to be reported too. Once a portal is live, the relevant Secretary has to notify the Assistant Secretary within 3 business days (Section 2).
Real-World Rollout
Imagine you're a small business owner trying to expand cell service in a rural area. Currently, you'd be wrestling with paper forms and potentially long wait times. This bill, if it works as intended, means you could submit everything online, track its progress, and get a quicker answer. For folks living in those areas, it could mean faster access to better internet and cell service. This impacts everyone from farmers needing reliable connections for their equipment to remote workers relying on stable internet.
The Catch?
While the goal is efficiency, there's always the risk of bureaucratic hiccups. The 60-day reporting requirement is designed to keep things moving, but it could also become another layer of paperwork. The success of this really hinges on how well these portals are designed and implemented. It also remains to be seen how quickly the agencies will act. It defines key terms like "communications use authorization" and "covered land," which helps avoid confusion (Section 2). The bill is trying to bridge the gap between the need for modern infrastructure and the often-slow pace of government processes. It also acknowledges the existing legal framework for communications uses on public lands, ensuring that this new digital process fits within the established rules.