NTIA Adopts Environmental Procedures for Broadband Grants

NTIA said it will follow FirstNet’s National Environmental Policy Act procedures on an interim basis and establish 33 categorical exclusions in compliance with NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations and other related authorities, as it awards funds under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). NTIA proposed that step a year ago (see 2303290035). The ruling is effective immediately, said a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register. “Following the FirstNet Authority’s procedures will facilitate the IIJA’s large-scale investment in NTIA programs and the need for NTIA to fulfill the mandates of the IIJA in a timely manner, by ensuring NTIA make[s] the most efficient use of time and available funding and resources to fulfill its environmental analysis and decision-making responsibilities,” the notice said.