Feds Simplify Historic Checks for Cell Tower Builds
Published Date: 4/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation updated rules to make it easier and faster for agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, to review wireless tower projects without repeating the same historic checks. These changes started on September 30, 2025, and will last until 2030, helping save time and avoid extra costs for building and upgrading wireless facilities. If you work with or near wireless projects, this update keeps things moving smoothly!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Avoids Duplicate Historic Reviews
If your work involves building or upgrading wireless communications towers, several federal agencies (RUS, NTIA, DHS components, FRA, FTA, FirstNet, OSMRE, and VA) generally will not have to repeat Section 106 historic reviews when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has already reviewed or exempted the same communications facility under the FCC Nationwide Programmatic Agreement or Collocation Programmatic Agreement. This relieves agencies from conducting duplicative reviews for those communications components.
VA Added to Streamlined Review
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was added to the Broadband Program Comment effective September 30, 2025, so VA telecommunications undertakings that undergo or are exempted from FCC Section 106 review can use the Program Comment and avoid duplicative VA Section 106 review for the communications components. The amendment allows the VA to use the exemptions in the FCC agreements to streamline future reviews at VA facilities.
Program Comment Extended to 2030
The Broadband Program Comment was amended to extend its duration so it remains in effect through September 30, 2030; the amendment went into effect on September 30, 2025. That means the streamlined, non-duplicative review approach described in the Program Comment will continue until that date unless further amended.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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