[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5919 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5919
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 11, 2023
Mr. Curtis introduced the following bill
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
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 ``Connect Our Parks Act''.
SEC. 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.
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