# 119-hr-6503: Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act

119-hr-6503, Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6503
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-6503
- Congress: 119
- Title: Broadband for Americans through Responsible Streamlining (BARS) Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-09
- Sponsor: Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Narrow NEPA and NHPA review for many communications projects.** The bill would exempt certain communications projects and related easements from being treated as a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act and from being an undertaking under the National Historic Preservation Act. It would also add clear definitions and presumptions to guide agencies and courts. - Communications companies and broadband deployers would face fewer environmental and historic-review steps for many upgrades, eligible facilities requests, and wireline projects, making routine permits move faster. - Indian tribes would face a timing presumption if they do not act within 45 days after receipt of a complete FCC Form 620 or 621, with a defined path to rebut that presumption based on follow-up actions within about 30 to 50 days. - Federal agencies and courts would get more prescriptive definitions and rules to apply the exemptions while the bill explicitly preserves the FCCs obligation to evaluate radiofrequency exposure under NEPA.

## Provisions PRIA read

- FCC must still check RF exposure: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would say that nothing in the Act changes the FCC's duty to evaluate radiofrequency (RF) exposure under NEPA. The provision would not create funding. It would preserve the Commission's existing obligation to consider RF exposure in environmental reviews.
- Faster federal review for broadband: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would narrow NEPA and NHPA reviews for many communications projects. It would apply exemptions to "covered projects" (many small cell, antenna, wireline, disaster-recovery, and similar work) and to eligible facilities and eligible wireline requests under 47 U.S.C. 1455. The bi…
- Tribal response deadlines for projects: mixed, medium. If enacted, this bill would create a rebuttable presumption when an Indian Tribe receives a complete FCC Form 620 or 621 and does not act within 45 days. The Commission and courts would presume the applicant made a good-faith effort and the Tribe disclaimed interest, unless the Tribe can show liste…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act
- 119-hr-5582: Patients Deserve Price Tags Act
- 119-hr-2709: Save Our Sequoias Act
- 119-hr-8206: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-1897: ESA Amendments Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9298: Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-6503 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6503)

## Related
- [119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-137)
- [119-hr-5582: Patients Deserve Price Tags Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5582)
- [119-hr-2709: Save Our Sequoias Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2709)
- [119-hr-8206: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8206)
- [119-hr-1897: ESA Amendments Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1897)
- [119-hr-9298: Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9298)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6503 (as of 2026-04-21).