H.R. 5264

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5264 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5264

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that certain 
projects for the placement and installation of communications 
facilities are not subject to requirements to prepare certain 
environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 10, 2025

Mr. Goldman of Texas 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 amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that certain 
projects for the placement and installation of communications 
facilities are not subject to requirements to prepare certain 
environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlining Permitting to Enable 
Efficient Deployment for Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2025'' or the 
``SPEED for Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM REVIEW FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.

Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 14. EXEMPTION FROM REVIEW FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.

``(a) Permitting of Covered Projects.--
``(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.
``(3) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection may be 
construed to affect--
``(A) the obligation of the Commission to evaluate 
radiofrequency exposure under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.);
``(B) except as explicitly provided in this 
subsection, the obligation of a provider of a 
communications service to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or division A of 
subtitle III of title 54, United States Code;
``(C) the authority of a State or local government 
to apply and enforce the zoning and other land use 
regulations of the State or local government to the 
extent consistent with this subsection and sections 
253, 332(c)(7), and 621; or
``(D) the authority or obligations established 
under section 20156(e) of title 49, 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 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.
``(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 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.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Antenna.--The term `antenna' means communications 
equipment that transmits or receives electromagnetic radio 
frequency signals used in the provision of wireless services.
``(2) 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)).
``(3) 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 
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.
``(4) Covered project.--The term `covered project' means 
the placement and installation of a new communications facility 
if--
``(A) 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;
``(B) 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), the existing communications 
facility that such new communications facility 
is replacing;
``(C) 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
``(D) 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.
``(5) Federal authorization.--The term `Federal 
authorization'--
``(A) means any authorization required under 
Federal law with respect to a project; and
``(B) includes any permits, special use 
authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other 
approvals as may be required under Federal law with 
respect to a project.
``(6) 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; 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).
``(7) 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.
``(8) Wireless service.--The term `wireless service' means 
the transmission by radio communication of voice, video, or 
data communications services, including Internet Protocol or 
any successor protocol-enabled services, or any combination of 
those services, whether provided on a licensed or permitted 
unlicensed basis.''.
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