Coastal Broadband Deployment Act

This bill exempts certain communications facility projects in floodplains from environmental and historic preservation reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Sec. 2, NEPA and NHPA exemptions for floodplain projects: A federal authorization for a covered project cannot be considered a major federal action under NEPA, and a covered project cannot be considered an undertaking under NHPA. A covered project is one that deploys or modifies a communications facility entirely within a floodplain (as defined in federal regulations) and requires a permit, license, or approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or is otherwise under FCC jurisdiction. A communications facility has the same meaning as in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. A federal authorization includes any permit, special use authorization, certification, opinion, or other approval required under federal law for the project.