# What This Bill Does: Speeding Up Wireless and Communications Projects

This bill makes it easier and faster for companies to build and upgrade wireless networks and communications infrastructure by removing certain environmental and historical review requirements. Essentially, it says that many communications projects no longer need to go through the lengthy federal review processes that typically apply to major projects affecting the environment or historic sites.

The bill creates a long list of specific communications projects that are exempt from two major federal laws: the National Environmental Policy Act (which requires environmental impact studies) and the National Historic Preservation Act (which protects historically significant sites). These exempt projects include things like adding antennas to existing cell towers, upgrading wireless facilities, installing small cell towers in public streets, replacing damaged communications equipment after disasters, and placing telecommunications equipment on existing infrastructure like utility poles. The idea is that these types of projects are relatively routine and don't need the same level of scrutiny as major construction projects.

There's also a provision that affects how Indian tribes are consulted about projects that might affect their sacred or culturally important sites. If a tribe receives proper notification about a project and doesn't respond within 45 days, the bill presumes the tribe isn't interested and the project can move forward. However, tribes can still object if they can show the company didn't make a genuine effort to reach out to them or if the notification process violates federal agreements.

The practical effect is that telecommunications companies should be able to deploy new wireless services, expand broadband coverage, and upgrade networks much faster since they won't be delayed by lengthy environmental reviews and historical preservation studies for routine projects. The tradeoff is that there will be less formal environmental scrutiny and fewer opportunities for public input on these communications projects, though the bill preserves requirements to evaluate radiation exposure from wireless facilities.

To provide that certain communications projects are not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other purposes.