H.R. 2298 — Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025

This section exempts the issuance of a federal authorization for a broadband project—defined as the installation by a broadband provider on federal land of wireline or wireless broadband infrastructure (i.e., enabling high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications)—carried out in a right-of-way from being considered a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). It further exempts such a project from being considered an undertaking under the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 300320). (Thus, these projects in rights-of-way—generally areas on, below, or above roadways or immediately adjacent lands, excluding the Interstate System—require neither NEPA environmental impact statements nor NHPA section 106 reviews.)