Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act

This bill sets federal rules for telephone and internet companies that want to install or change equipment where public roads cross railroad lines or on railroad land. If a state or local government has already approved work where a public road crosses a railroad, the company would only need to notify the railroad, could not be charged by the railroad, and would start work 15 to 30 days after notice. For work on railroad land, the company would apply to the railroad, which must decide within 60 days and could deny only for safety or serious harm to its operations; the company would pay the railroad's actual costs. Disputes would go to the Federal Communications Commission, which must issue a final order within 90 days and write rules within one year, coordinating with the Federal Railroad Administration on safety.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Marsha Blackburn Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors