Bill Overview
Title: Public Lands Telecommunications Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to establish separate special accounts for the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation for the deposit of rental fees received by such agencies under communications use authorizations, which allow for the occupancy and use of federal lands for communications purposes. The rental fees received by each agency shall be deposited in the agency's special account, and remain available for expenditure for agency activities related to communications sites (those areas of federal lands designated for telecommunications uses). The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out activities related to communications sites.
Sponsors: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by legislative changes to telecommunications on public lands
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill deals with the allocation of rental fees from telecommunications use on federal lands in the U.S.
- It impacts the operations and funding for agencies responsible for managing public lands with telecommunications infrastructure, such as the National Park Service.
- The bill affects companies that use federal lands for telecommunications purposes, as they pay the rental fees targeted by this bill.
- Individuals employed by these agencies may be impacted due to potential changes in funding and resources.
- The bill may affect visitors and users of public lands if changes in funding alter management practices.
- Telecommunications companies and their customers who rely on infrastructure located on public lands may experience secondary impacts.
Reasoning
- The policy is directed at improving the infrastructure and management of telecommunications on federal lands, which could benefit public land management agencies by providing them additional funds directly derived from rental fees.
- Telecommunications companies that utilize federal lands could see fee structures change or stabilize, potentially passing costs or savings to customers.
- Public land users might notice improvements in communications infrastructure, impacting their experiences—though indirectly affecting wellbeing scores.
- Individuals employed by the agencies involved could see changes in job scope due to increased resources, possibly impacting job satisfaction.
- Due to budget constraints, initial impacts may be more administrative in setting up systems, with longer-term impacts including tangible improvements in infrastructure or services.
Simulated Interviews
Ranger for National Park Service (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate that this policy could provide us with additional resources for enhancing communication systems in our parks.
- It should help us with maintenance and development projects which often lack sufficient funding.
- I am mildly concerned about how these funds will be managed and hope there will be transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Manager at a telecommunications company (Boise, Idaho)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We depend on stable regulations and fee structures; this policy clarifies some aspects.
- There might be new opportunities in working with government agencies on projects.
- I'm wary of potential increases in rental fees, but they are necessary investments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, California)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any improvements in telecommunications, especially in less connected areas, is beneficial to me professionally and personally.
- Although I'm not directly affected by the fee exchanges, enhanced infrastructure is a positive result.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Wildlife Biologist for Bureau of Land Management (Austin, Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find it promising that our work might get more fiscal support, leading to better outcomes for land conservation.
- However, I am concerned about priorities—it's crucial that conservation remains forefront and isn't overridden by telecom interests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tourist (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- When visiting national parks, having good cell service is a bonus, especially for safety.
- If this policy helps maintain or improve that, I'm all for it.
- Although, I'm worried it might affect park fees down the line.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Environmental Policy Advocate (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the focus on telecommunications doesn't detract from environmental goals.
- It's essential to balance infrastructure with biodiversity conservation.
- This policy should include strict guidelines to prevent environmental degradation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Telecommunications Consultant (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy offers a structured approach to manage telecommunications on federal lands, which can reduce project uncertainties.
- Concerns about which costs may be passed down to end-users should be addressed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to reliable telecommunications on public lands is increasingly important for safety and connectivity when traveling.
- I'm supportive of any policy that could improve these services, but cautious about costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Digital Nomad (New York City, New York)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I wouldn't notice the immediate effects of the policy, any long-term improvements in remote connectivity will enhance my work life.
- Policymakers should consider future expansions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Park Maintenance Worker (Missoula, Montana)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional funding will assist us in maintaining and upgrading communication systems, which have been neglected at times.
- Localized difficulties might become easier to manage with proper funding allocations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Year 3: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Key Considerations
- This bill is revenue-neutral as it redistributes existing funds without introducing new taxes or costs.
- The focused use of funds for telecommunications sites might improve infrastructure reliability and service quality, indirectly benefiting various stakeholders.
- The extent of savings and economic benefits will largely depend on the efficient management of these specialized funds.