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Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2019

Introduced: January 8, 2019 Introduced by: Curtis, John R. Republican · Utah See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Feb 5, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Jan 8, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
Jan 8, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2019

This bill authorizes federal departments to delegate federal environmental compliance for broadband projects to states and Indian tribes.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish a voluntary program whereby states or Indian tribes may opt-in to an agreement allowing them to take on the responsibility of environmental review for the permitting of broadband projects.

Such projects must be located within an operational right-of-way (all real property interests acquired for the construction or operation of a project) on (1) national forest system land, (2) land managed by Interior, or (3) Indian lands.

USDA and Interior shall also establish broadband permit streamlining teams to coordinate and expedite permitting decisions for broadband projects.

What's happening now February 8, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 292: Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-292/
MLA
"H.R. 292: Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-292/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 292, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-292/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 292: Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-292/)
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