H.R. 1588 · In committee · Science, Technology, Communications

Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act

Sponsor: Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)

What it does

• Require the NTIA to report to Congress every 60 days on the status of online portals for processing communications facility permits on federal and National Forest land.
• Direct the Department of the Interior and Forest Service to establish online portals for accepting and processing applications for easements, rights-of-way, and other authorizations to place communications infrastructure
• Mandate that Interior and the Forest Service notify NTIA within three business days of launching their respective portals.

Official summary

Facilitating the Deployment of Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act or the Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to periodically report on the development of online portals for the acceptance, processing, and disposal of applications for communications use authorizations. Communications use authorizations are requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, or other authorizations to locate or modify a transmitting device, support structure, or other communications facility on public lands or National Forest System land. Specifically, the NTIA must report to Congress about (1) whether the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service have each established a portal, and (2) any barriers to establishing the portals. The NTIA must submit the first report within 90 days of the enactment of the bill and additional reports every 60 days thereafter until the portals are established. Additionally, Interior and the Forest Service must notify the NTIA within three business days of establishing their respective portals.

Latest action

Feb 4, 2026: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-486, Part I.

Committee: House Energy and Commerce