For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 26, 2004
Broadband Rights-of-Way Memorandum
Memorandum
April 26, 2004
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Improving Rights-of-Way Management Across Federal
Lands to Spur Greater Broadband Deployment
Broadband, also known as high-speed Internet access, has the
potential to bring new services and products to American consumers and
businesses, fostering innovation, investment, and job-producing
economic growth. My Administration has long recognized the economic
vitality that can result from broadband deployment and is working to
create an environment to foster broadband deployment. All Americans
should have affordable access to broadband technology by the year
2007.
A key to widespread broadband deployment is ensuring that broadband
providers have timely and cost-effective access to rights-of-way so
that they can build out their networks across the Nation. These
networks often need to cross large areas of land owned or controlled by
the Federal Government. Thus, effective and efficient Federal
rights-of-way policies and practices are critical for promoting
broadband deployment.
To ensure that the Federal Government's rights-of-way policies and
practices facilitate the aggressive deployment of broadband networks,
my Administration created a Federal Rights-of-Way Working Group
composed of representatives from most of the major Federal agencies
with land management responsibilities. The mission of the Working
Group was to identify and recommend changes in Federal policies,
procedures, regulations, and practices that would improve the process
of granting rights-of-way for broadband communications networks on
lands under Federal jurisdiction.
Based on information gathered from the communications industry, the
Federal agencies, state, local, and tribal representatives, and other
stakeholders, the Working Group has produced a report entitled,
"Improving Rights-of-Way Management Across Federal Lands: A Roadmap
for Greater Broadband Deployment," which sets forth specific
recommendations in four main areas.
(1) Information Access and Collection -- to streamline and
standardize applications to reduce the administrative burden and
costs on broadband providers.
(2) Timely Process -- to speed Federal agencies' consideration of
rights-of-way applications.
(3) Fees -- to ensure that fees charged by Federal agencies are
reasonable and appropriate.
(4) Compliance -- to ensure that Federal agencies have the proper
tools to promote compliance with rights-of-way grants or permits.
These recommendations are designed to assist Federal agencies in
efficiently and effectively performing their vital role as stewards of
the public lands, while working cooperatively with industry to spur
broadband deployment.
Therefore, I hereby direct the heads of executive departments and
agencies (agencies) to take appropriate actions to implement the
specific recommendations contained in the report to the maximum extent
practicable and as permitted by law.
In addition, agencies should review their existing policies and
procedures and identify any additional ways to improve the process for
granting rights-of-way for broadband communications networks. Agencies
should report to me, through the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget, within 1 year of the date of this memorandum on all actions
taken. The agencies shall take these actions using existing budget
authority.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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