16 U.S.C. § 8453 — Public lands telecommunications cooperative agreements

(a) Cooperative agreements for the Department of the Interior. The Secretary may sign cooperative agreements to handle communications sites — like cell towers — on land run by federal land management agencies. These agreements can cover: (1) managing the permits ("communications use authorizations") that let companies use a site; (2) preparing studies needed to set up communications sites and permits on or near federal recreational lands and waters; (3) creating management plans for those sites in a way that treats all competitors and technologies equally and fairly; (4) training staff to manage these sites; (5) getting access to, improving, or building communications sites on or near federal recreational lands and waters; and (6) any mix of the purposes listed above. (b) This subsection is left out of the published text ("Omitted"). (c) Assessment of rental fee retention authority. Within one year after January 4, 2025, the Secretary must conduct a full assessment. It must evaluate the benefits of letting the government keep the rental fees these communications permits generate, by putting the fees into a special account used only to fund activities related to communications sites on the Secretary's lands and waters.