S. 4561 · In committee · Science, Technology, Communications

CLOSE THE GAP Act

What it does

Directs the Secretary of Interior and Agriculture to promulgate regulations within one year to standardize broadband permitting procedures across federal land management agencies and organizational units.
Requires regulations to ensure applications for communications facilities are processed on a competitively neutral, technology neutral, and nondiscriminatory basis.
Mandates that cost recovery fees for locating or modifying communications facilities on federal land be calculated annually and based solely on costs incurred by the managing agency in processing applications and overseeing construction.
Requires federal agencies to publicly track and report the number of broadband permit applications received, approved, and denied, with written decisions and appeal opportunities for denied applications.
Establishes minimum lease terms of not less than 30 years for communications facilities on federal land.

Jul 15, 2026: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Committee: Senate Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee