119-HR-1731 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A bipartisan bill to create a single, cost‑based federal fee schedule for processing applications to install or modify communications equipment on federal buildings and property, aiming to make broadband build‑outs faster and more predictable. [2]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Overview and CRS Summary[4]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Bill text (Standard FEES Act)

What It Does

The Standard FEES Act directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to set one uniform, competitively neutral schedule of fees—based on agencies’ direct processing costs—for applications to place, modify, or maintain communications facilities (like antennas and related equipment) on federally owned buildings or other federal property. Agencies must adopt the GSA schedule and may grant narrowly defined, competitively neutral exceptions, including to expand broadband access. The bill sets quick timelines: GSA has 30 days after enactment to publish the schedule, and agencies have 120 days after that to adopt it. [2]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Overview and CRS Summary[4]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Bill text (Standard FEES Act)

Why It Matters

• For consumers and communities: Could speed deployment of 5G and other broadband by making fees predictable and processing more consistent across federal sites.
• For providers: Replaces varied, agency‑by‑agency charges with a standard, cost‑based fee, reducing uncertainty and potential delays.
• For agencies and taxpayers: Limits fees to covering actual processing costs (not revenue‑raising), with exceptions allowed when they clearly serve public benefit or broadband expansion. [2]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Overview and CRS Summary[4]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Bill text (Standard FEES Act)

Who’s For It

• Sponsors: Rep. Gary Palmer (R‑AL) with original cosponsor Rep. Patrick Ryan (D‑NY) — signaling bipartisan backing from the start. [5]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Cosponsors (Rep. Patrick Ryan listed as original cos…
• House Energy & Commerce Committee members of both parties, who voted 49–0 on December 3, 2025 to report the bill to the full House. [3]House Energy & Commerce Committee — Energy & Commerce Committee press release:…
• Supporters’ case (as described in Congress materials): a uniform, cost‑based fee schedule will streamline approvals, create certainty, and help close broadband gaps. [2]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Overview and CRS Summary

Who’s Against It

• No committee members voted against the bill in the December 3 Energy & Commerce markup (49–0). [3]House Energy & Commerce Committee — Energy & Commerce Committee press release:…
• Potential concerns some stakeholders might raise: limiting fees to “direct costs” could restrict agencies’ ability to recover broader overhead; a single schedule may reduce flexibility for complex sites; and the fast deadlines could strain agency implementation. (These are typical trade‑offs with standardization; no formal congressional opposition has been recorded so far.)

What’s Next

After being reported by the House Energy & Commerce Committee on December 3, 2025, H.R. 1731 awaits scheduling for a vote in the full House. The bill was also referred to the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, which retains jurisdiction and could take additional action. [1]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Text page with "Latest Action" showing 12/03/2025 co…[6]Congress.gov — H.R. 1731 — Committees and referrals (T&I; Energy & Commerce)