# Plain Language Summary: Standard FEES Act

When companies want to put cell towers, internet equipment, or other communications facilities on federal buildings or land, they have to apply for permission and pay processing fees. Right now, different federal agencies charge different fees for handling these applications, which creates confusion and inconsistency. This bill establishes one uniform fee schedule that all federal agencies must use when processing these applications, so companies know exactly what they'll pay regardless of which agency owns the property.

The bill requires the General Services Administration (the federal agency that manages government property) to create this standardized fee schedule within 30 days of the law passing. These fees must be based on the actual costs agencies spend to review and process the applications—not inflated prices. All other federal agencies then have 120 days to adopt these same fees. The goal is to make the process faster and more predictable for telecommunications companies while ensuring taxpayers aren't overcharged for the administrative work.

The bill does allow for some flexibility. Agencies can make exceptions to the standard fees in certain situations, like when a project would significantly expand broadband internet access to underserved areas. However, any exceptions must be applied fairly across similar situations and can't give unfair advantages to particular companies. Any fees collected go directly back to the agencies to pay for the cost of processing these applications, and this new uniform system replaces any other fee structures that might have existed under different laws.

Standard FEES Act

Palmer, Gary J.

Standard Fees to Expedite Evaluation and Streamlining Act or the Standard FEES Act This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish, and federal agencies to adopt, a common schedule of fees for processing certain applications to use buildings or property owned or managed by the federal government for locating or modifying transmitting devices, support structures, or other communications facilities. The fees must be competitively neutral and based on direct and actual costs. GSA may provide exceptions to the fees if the exceptions (1) are competitively neutral with respect to the categories of individuals or entities that are granted exceptions, and (2) serve a public benefit and the interest of expanding broadband deployment. The bill limits an agency's use of the fees to amounts made available in advance through appropriations acts.