On May 1, NRECA, along with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, filed comments with the National Information and Telecommunications Administration (NTIA) regarding proposed categorical exclusions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules for NTIA broadband programs contained in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). The comments support the proposed categorical exclusions and urge NTIA to move forward quickly with their adoption, subject to recommended clarifications. A couple of the proposed modifications recommended by the comments are to ensure the original rules apply evenly to all technologies, increase the threshold percentage of poles from less than 20% to less than 30% requiring enhanced review and for NTIA to also consider streamlining the consultation processes required by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
