DEPLOYING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH GREATER INTERNET TRANSACTIONS AND LEGACY APPLICATIONS ACT

DEPLOYING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH GREATER INTERNET TRANSACTIONS AND LEGACY APPLICATIONS ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2511-H2513] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DEPLOYING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH GREATER INTERNET TRANSACTIONS AND LEGACY APPLICATIONS ACT Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1665) to require the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to establish online portals to accept, process, and dispose of certain Form 299s, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1665 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 ``Deploying Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act'' or the ``DIGITAL Applications Act''. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF ONLINE PORTALS TO ACCEPT, PROCESS, AND DISPOSE OF CERTAIN FORM 299S. (a) Establishment of Online Portals.-- (1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall each establish, with respect to the relevant covered department, an online portal for the acceptance, processing, and disposal of a Form 299 for communications use authorizations. (2) Notification.--Not later than 3 business days after the date on which an online portal has been established by a Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1), that Secretary shall notify the Assistant Secretary of the establishment of such portal. (b) Availability of Online Portals.--The Assistant Secretary shall publish on the website of the National Telecommunications [[Page H2512]] and Information Administration a link to each online portal established pursuant to subsection (a)(1). (c) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. (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) Communications use.--The term ``communications use'' means the placement and operation of a communications facility. (4) Communications use authorization.--The term ``communications use authorization'' means an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or other authorization-- (A) provided by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture; (B) to locate or modify a communications facility on covered land; and (C) for the primary purpose of authorizing the occupancy and use of such covered land for communications use. (5) Covered land.--The term ``covered land'' means-- (A) public lands; and (B) National Forest System land. (6) Form 299.--The term ``Form 299'' means the form established under section 6409(b)(2)(A) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455(b)(2)(A)), or any successor form. (7) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest System'' has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)). (8) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702). (9) Relevant covered department.--The term ``relevant covered department'' means-- (A) with respect to the Secretary of the Interior, the Department of the Interior; and (B) with respect to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture. (10) Secretaries concerned.--The term ``Secretaries concerned'' means-- (A) the Secretary of the Interior; and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas. General Leave Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1665, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas? There was no objection. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the DIGITAL Applications Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representative Cammack. This important legislation directs the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to establish online portals to accept, process, and track applications to deploy broadband infrastructure on Federal lands. The United States faces a persistent digital divide, with tens of millions of Americans still lacking access to basic broadband services. Many of these Americans live in rural areas or on Tribal lands near federally managed land. For these communities, broadband isn't a luxury. It is essential infrastructure. It means students can do their homework at home; small businesses can reach customers and compete in the modern economy; farmers and ranchers can use precision tools; and families can access telehealth, emergency services, and basic information. Without reliable internet, entire communities are left at a disadvantage. In too many cases, the problem isn't a lack of interest from providers but, rather, the Federal permitting process. Today, broadband providers face a system that is slow, opaque, and unpredictable. Applications can sit for months with little to no communication. Providers have no idea where their applications stand, whether more information is needed, or when a decision might come. That uncertainty makes it harder to plan projects and invest resources, ultimately delaying the delivery of internet access to the communities that need it most. This permitting morass is exactly how the Biden-Harris administration wasted $42 billion in taxpayer funds to deploy broadband infrastructure across the country and failed to connect a single household. Throwing money at this problem is not the answer. We need commonsense permitting reform. Representative Cammack's legislation offers a real, straightforward solution to a discrete problem. By creating online portals for broadband application, agencies can bring transparency and accountability to the permitting process. Applicants will be able to track their submissions, see where they are in the review process, and understand exactly what is needed to move forward. This kind of transparency is a simple fix that can bring more predictability to developers and help speed deployment. H.R. 1665 will help build essential infrastructure faster, smarter, and with more transparency. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation, and I commend Representative Cammack for her leadership on this effort. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, January 30, 2026. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Westerman: I write concerning H.R. 2294, To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, which the Committee on Natural Resources ordered reported on July 23, 2025. H.R. 2294 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done based on our mutual understanding that doing so will not diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim of the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Committee Report and in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Brian Babin, D.D.S., Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, January 30, 2026. Hon. Brian Babin, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Babin: I write regarding H.R. 2294, To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on July 23, 2025. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will not formally consider H.R. 2294 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 2294. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. {time} 1630 Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1665, the DIGITAL Applications Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representative Cammack and Representative Matsui, which would promote ac

Referenced legislation: HR1665, HR1665, HR2294