Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act
Congress bill would speed broadband builds by exempting many projects from environmental and historic reviews
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This Congress bill would let many broadband and wireless projects skip federal environmental and historic-preservation reviews.
- It covers things like adding or changing cell equipment on existing towers, putting new small wireless sites in streets, and some wireline upgrades on existing infrastructure.
- It would also speed approvals on federal property by exempting some easements and rights-of-way when a similar easement already exists or the project is in a public right-of-way.
- For some projects, if a Tribe receives a complete request form and does not respond within 45 days, the FCC and courts would presume the company tried in good faith and that the Tribe is not interested.
- It keeps one key check in place: the FCC would still have to evaluate radiofrequency exposure under federal environmental law.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.