Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Cammack for her leadership on the DIGITAL Applications Act. This legislation will help get rural America online to support students, small businesses, farmers, ranchers, and families. It will help constituents in my home State of Arkansas, as well as Americans across the country, who live in remote areas near Federal lands. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1665, and I yield back the balance of my time.
H.R. 1665: DIGITAL Applications Act
Introduced Feb 27, 20253 cosponsors
Sponsor
Kat Cammack
Republican · FL-3
Bill Progress
IntroducedFeb 27
Committee
Pass HouseMar 16
Pass Senate
Signed
Law
Latest Action · Mar 17, 2026
1/2
Passed the House, received in Senate
Broadband permits on federal land should be online
4 min readLast updated June 9, 2026
Why it matters
Right now, a permit to run fiber or raise a tower across public land or a national forest can still start with a paper Form 299 and a hunt for the right office. H.R. 1665 gives the Interior and Agriculture departments one year to put that application online, then three business days to notify NTIA so it can post a public link. The bill cleared the House by voice vote and is now in the Senate.
H.R. 1665, the DIGITAL Applications Act, is a narrow permitting bill with a simple goal: take one federal application off paper and put it online.
It orders two agencies — the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, under the Department of Agriculture — to each build a portal that accepts, processes, and closes out Form 299 applications. That's the form used to get permission to place or modify communications equipment on public land or national forest land.
Each portal has to be running within one year of the bill becoming law. Once a portal is live, the agency has three business days to notify the Commerce Department official who oversees NTIA. NTIA then has to post links to both portals on its website, so applicants have one place to start instead of guessing which agency site to search.
The bill reaches a range of approvals — easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, and similar authorizations for communications facilities. What it doesn't do matters too: it adds no broadband funding, changes no fees, doesn't rewrite the form, and sets no deadline for agencies to actually approve or deny anything. It changes how you file and where you find the form, not the decision at the end.
H.R. 1665 Bill Summary
What H.R. 1665 actually does.
1
Form 299 permit applications move online
Interior and the Agriculture Department, through the Forest Service, would each have to build an online portal that accepts, processes, and closes out Form 299 applications for communications use authorizations.
2
Agencies get one year to launch
Each department would have one year after the bill becomes law to get its portal up and running.
3
New portals must be reported within three business days
After a portal goes live, the department has three business days to notify the Commerce official responsible for NTIA.
4
NTIA becomes the public starting point
NTIA would have to post links to each agency portal on its website, giving applicants one central place to find them.
5
Covers new towers and modifications alike
The portal requirement applies to authorizations used to locate or modify communications facilities on public lands and National Forest System land, not just brand-new builds.
6
Leases, rights-of-way, and easements are included
The bill applies to a range of land-use approvals — easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, and similar authorizations for communications use.
Who benefits from H.R. 1665?
Broadband and wireless builders working across federal land
If you need permission to build or modify communications equipment on public land or national forest land, you'd get a defined online filing path instead of older, agency-specific paper processes.
Rural communities waiting on projects that cross federal land
When a broadband route or tower site touches public lands or National Forest System land, a simpler intake step removes one source of delay before service reaches nearby homes and businesses.
Applicants who don't know which agency site to start with
Instead of hunting across multiple federal websites, you'd start from NTIA's site, which would have to link to both required portals.
Agency staff handling permit intake
Interior and Forest Service employees would move from scattered paper handling to a standardized digital workflow for receiving and tracking these applications.
Who is affected by H.R. 1665?
Department of the Interior
The department would have to build an online Form 299 portal within one year and notify NTIA's parent office within three business days of launch.
Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service
They would face the same one-year portal deadline for applications involving National Forest System land.
NTIA and the Commerce Department
They wouldn't run the permit systems, but they would have to publish links to the agency portals so the public can find them.
Companies and applicants seeking communications approvals
Anyone applying for an easement, lease, right-of-way, license, or similar authorization for a communications facility on covered federal land would shift into the new portal-based filing process.
On the Record
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 1665 has come up 12 times in the Congressional Record so far.
Today, I rise in support of H.R. 1665, the DIGITAL Applications Act, legislation that I introduced to modernize how our Federal agencies process applications for communications infrastructure on Federal lands. At its core, this bill is about something very simple: bringing outdated government processes into the digital age. Today, companies seeking to deploy broadband infrastructure on Federal lands must often submit a form 299 to the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture to obtain authorization for communication facilities, such as towers or related equipment.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1665, the DIGITAL Applications Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representative Cammack and Representative Matsui, which would promote accessibility and transparency in the permitting process for communications use authorizations. While many agencies are working to modernize their systems, application processes too often continue to rely on snail mail or email, which can lead to delays and challenges in submitting and processing. H.R.
H.R. 1665 also appeared in 1 more House floor reference and 3 routine cosponsor filings.
HR1665 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Mar 17, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House: Vote: 2511-2512
Mar 16, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2511-2512)
House: Committee Action
Feb 4, 2026
Committee on Agriculture discharged.
House: Vote: 51-0
Dec 3, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 0.
House: Vote Held
Nov 18, 2025
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
House: Passed Committee
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
+2 more actions this day
House: Committee Action
Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
About the Sponsor
Kat Cammack
Republican, Florida's 3rd congressional district · 5 years in Congress
Committees: Agriculture, Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (3)
No new cosponsors in 166 days — momentum stalled
All 3 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 3 states: California, Maryland, Ohio.
3Democrats·3 states
Committee Sponsors
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
8D11R1I
|0 signed20 not yet0 of 20 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Agriculture Committee
24D29R
|1 signed52 not yet1 of 53 committee members cosponsored
Natural Resources Committee
20D25R
|0 signed45 not yet0 of 45 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Energy and Commerce Committee
24D30R
|2 signed52 not yet2 of 54 committee members cosponsored
92 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1665 Quick Facts
Cosponsors
3
- Committee
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Introduced
- Feb 27, 2025
Passed the House, received in Senate
Mar 17, 2026
Official Sources
H.R. 1665 on Congress.gov
The official Congress.gov page provides the bill text, status, sponsors, and actions for H.R. 1665.
BLM Communications Sites Program
The Interior Department's portal would run through the Bureau of Land Management, which authorizes communications sites and rights-of-way on public lands today.
U.S. Forest Service Special Uses Program
The Forest Service would have to create one of the required online portals, and its special uses program covers authorizations on National Forest System land.
47 U.S.C. 1455 at the U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel
The bill expressly incorporates the Form 299 and communications facility definitions from 47 U.S.C. 1455.
Federal Land Policy and Management Act definitions, 43 U.S.C. 1702
The bill uses the statutory definition of public lands from 43 U.S.C. 1702, which helps explain where the portal requirement applies.
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act definition of National Forest System, 16 U.S.C. 1609
The bill adopts the statutory definition of National Forest System land from 16 U.S.C. 1609(a).
H.R. 1665 Common Questions
What would H.R. 1665 actually change?
It would make Interior and the Forest Service accept Form 299 communications permit applications through online portals instead of paper. NTIA would post links so applicants can find both in one place.
How long would agencies have to build the portals?
One year after the bill becomes law. Once a portal launches, the agency then has three business days to notify the Commerce official tied to NTIA.
Would there be one federal permit portal or two?
Two. H.R. 1665 requires a separate portal for the Department of the Interior and for the Agriculture Department, acting through the Forest Service.
Which projects would use these online portals?
Projects to place or modify communications equipment on public land or national forest land. That covers requests needing an easement, lease, right-of-way, license, or similar approval.
Would it apply to upgrades of existing towers, not just new builds?
Yes. The bill covers authorizations to locate or modify a communications facility on covered federal land, so upgrades and new construction both go through the portal.
Does the bill create broadband funding or lower permit fees?
No. H.R. 1665 is only about how applications are filed and found online. It adds no funding, no grants, and no fee changes.
What is Form 299 in plain English?
It's the federal application used to get permission for certain communications projects on public or national forest land. H.R. 1665 doesn't replace the form — it just moves the filing online.
Would this bill guarantee faster broadband approvals?
Not on its own. It modernizes how you file, but it sets no deadline for agencies to approve or deny an application — so the decision at the end can still take as long as it does today.
Based on H.R. 1665 bill text
H.R. 1665 Bill Text
“To require the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to establish online portals to accept, process, and dispose of certain Form 299s, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
Bill Alerts
Get notified when H.R. 1665 moves
Committee votes, floor action, cosponsor changes — straight to your inbox.
Bill alerts + Legisletter's monthly briefing. Unsubscribe anytime.
Science, Technology, Communications Bills
9 related bills we're tracking
S. 1748
Kids Online Safety Act
Marsha BlackburnR-TN
+71
75 cosponsors
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2929-2930)
May 14, 2025
SenateScience, Technology, Communications
H.R. 8031
GUARDRAILS Act
Donald BeyerD-VA
+31
35 cosponsors
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 20, 2026
HouseScience, Technology, Communications
H.R. 6356
Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025
Yvette ClarkeD-NY
+22
26 cosponsors
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Dec 2, 2025
HouseScience, Technology, Communications
S. 146
TAKE IT DOWN Act
Ted CruzR-TX
+17
21 cosponsors
Became Public Law No: 119-12.
May 19, 2025
SenateScience, Technology, Communications
S. 3557
States' Right to Regulate AI Act
Edward MarkeyD-MA
+6
10 cosponsors
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Dec 17, 2025
SenateScience, Technology, Communications
H.R. 390
ACERO Act
Vince FongR-CA
+3
7 cosponsors
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 24, 2026
HouseScience, Technology, Communications
H.R. 2600
ASCEND Act
Jeff HurdR-CO
+2
6 cosponsors
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
Feb 24, 2026
HouseScience, Technology, Communications
S. 4216
GUARDRAILS Act
Brian SchatzD-HI
+1
5 cosponsors
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 26, 2026
SenateScience, Technology, Communications
H.R. 3679
Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act
Mike CollinsR-GA
4 cosponsors
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 24, 2026
HouseScience, Technology, Communications
Trending Right Now
Bills gaining momentum across Congress
H.R. 3747
AADAPT Act
Troy BaldersonR-OH
+78
82 cosponsors
+2 this monthOrdered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
May 21, 2026
HouseHealth
H.R. 7230
Buying American Cotton Act of 2026
Gregory MurphyR-NC
+72
76 cosponsors
+4 this monthReferred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 22, 2026
HouseTaxation
H.R. 3045
West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025
Jerrold NadlerD-NY
+146
150 cosponsors
+2 this monthReferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 28, 2025
HouseInternational Affairs
Tracking Science, Technology, Communications in Congress? Monitor bills, track cosponsor momentum, and launch advocacy campaigns — all from one advocacy platform.