Bill Sponsor
House Bill 5919
118th Congress(2023-2024)
Connect Our Parks Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Oct 11, 2023
Overview
Text
Introduced in House 
Oct 25, 2023
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
Introduced in House(Oct 25, 2023)
Oct 25, 2023
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
H. R. 5919 (Introduced-in-House)


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.