Broadband Inventory
The Broadband Inventory is a centralized source for published Federal broadband applications, forms, lease agreements, policies and procedures, and process documents from the 14 Federal departments, agencies, and offices that belong to the Broadband Executive Order Working Group, established by the June 14, 2012 Executive Order (E.O.) No. 13616, “Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment.” The E.O. specifically calls for increased accessibility and usability of Federal broadband documentation to help to promote and facilitate wired and wireless broadband infrastructure deployment on Federal lands, buildings, and rights of way; federally assisted highways; and tribal and individual Indian trust lands, particularly in underserved communities. Although the majority of this documentation is also housed on agency-specific websites, this central document inventory is provided to make these resources easily accessible to wireless providers, public safety, and others who undergo Federal reviews prior to broadband deployment.
The Broadband Inventory below may be filtered by responsible agency, function, and/or resource type to help users find what they are looking for more quickly and efficiently. Below is a general explanation of each “function,” or category of Federal action, for which resources are provided:
- Licensing: Relates to an owner giving permission to an individual or an entity to use real property (e.g., Federal asset) for a specific purpose, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing of telecommunications towers.
- Leasing: Relates to a temporary agreement in which a Federal landlord grants a tenant the right to occupy real property (e.g., Federal land or building) for a specific timeframe, and the tenant agrees to terms and conditions set forth by the landlord.
- Permitting: Relates to Federal authorization or consent to perform certain activities (e.g., construction, maintenance, and/or installation) on Federal property or rights of way,
- Funding: Relates to the issuance of Federal funds to non-Federal recipients for broadband-related projects and the corresponding regulations and compliance requirements attached to those funds.
The “Resource types” category allows you to sort by tools and templates (e.g., checklists, online and software resources, and databases), policies and procedures (e.g., guidance or strategy documents, forms, and processes), or case studies/successes (e.g., best practices).
Title | Description | Function | Resource Type | Responsible Agency Sort descending |
---|---|---|---|---|
Department of Commerce National Environmental Policy Act Categorical Exclusions for broadband deployment | Listing of categorical exclusions that preclude applicants from carrying out a comprehensive National Environmental Policy Act review, if certain criteria ar |
Multiple | Policies and Procedures | Department of Commerce |
National Broadband Map | Mapping software of broadband access across the country to identify areas that may need coverage the most. |
Multiple | Tools and Templates | Department of Commerce |
Public Safety Technical Assistance Tools | Tools for public safety practitioners to help in identifying areas of coverage and locating areas in need of coverage. |
Multiple | Tools and Templates | Department of Homeland Security |
Civic Infrastructure | Mapping database to assist in identifying possible Federal or state owned assets for use in broadband deployment. |
Leasing | Tools and Templates | Department of the Interior |
Rights of way/Utilities Federal Highway Administration Policy | Explanation of utility programs, highway rights of way, laws and regulations and additional publications and links on these subjects. |
Policies and Procedures | Department of Transportation | |
Government Accountability Office Report: Planning and Flexibility are Key to Effectively Deploying Broadband Conduit through Federal Highway Projects | Any state looking to deploy broadband infrastructure and trying to develop Dig Once and similar policies could use this Government Accountability Office repo |
Case Studies | Department of Transportation | |
Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Rural Interstate Corridor Communications Study | Federal agencies can utilize this Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration report to identify best practices and lessons learned fro |
Permitting | Case Studies | Department of Transportation |
Smart Location Database | Mapping for broadband applicants to identify critical areas that project may intersect General Services Administration properties. |
Permitting | Tools and Templates | Environmental Protection Agency |
Federal Communications Commission Environmental Assessment in the Antenna Structure Registration System | Full description of what an environmental assessment entails and all necessary components/requirements. |
Multiple | Policies and Procedures | Federal Communications Commission |
Federal Communications Commission Environmental Checklist | Federal Communications Commission's environmental checklist to assist applicants through the steps of completing an environmental review before siting a towe |
Multiple | Tools and Templates | Federal Communications Commission |