ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13821Executive OrderTrump 45 · R

Executive Order 13821

Streamlining and Expediting Requests To Locate Broadband Facilities in Rural America

This executive order directs federal agencies to accelerate rural broadband deployment by streamlining the process for installing wireless broadband facilities on federal property. It mandates use of a standardized GSA Common Form Application for siting requests, requires agencies to report quarterly on application processing, and sets deadlines for evaluating and improving the application system.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 1507

Impact dates

  1. Recommendations for Common Form Application improvements due to OMB Director

  2. Evaluation of Common Form Application effectiveness due; revisions implementation begins

  3. First aggregated summary report to OMB Director due; quarterly cycle begins

Key directives

  • Federal property managing agencies must use GSA Common Form Application for wireless broadband facility siting requests
  • Agencies must expeditiously review and approve requests unless negative mission impact or not in US best interests
  • GSA Administrator must evaluate Common Form Application effectiveness and implement revisions within 180 days
  • Federal property managing agencies must report quarterly on application metrics to GSA
  • GSA Administrator must provide aggregated summary reports to OMB quarterly starting at 90 days
  • GSA Administrator must recommend application improvements to OMB within 1 year

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Policy declaration establishing rural broadband acceleration as executive branch priority
  • Federal property managing agencies required to begin using GSA Common Form Application for broadband siting requests

Near term (90d)

  • GSA Administrator must provide first aggregated summary report to OMB Director on agency application processing (April 8, 2018)
  • Quarterly reporting cycle begins for all Federal property managing agencies

Long term

  • GSA Administrator must complete evaluation of Common Form Application effectiveness and begin implementing revisions (July 7, 2018)
  • GSA Administrator must recommend improvements to Common Form Application to OMB Director (January 8, 2019)
  • Ongoing quarterly reporting continues indefinitely

Risks & tensions

  • Vague approval standard ('negatively affect performance' / 'not in best interests') creates agency discretion that may slow approvals
  • No enforcement mechanism for agencies that fail to meet 'expeditious' review standard
  • Quarterly reporting burden on agencies without clear consequences for non-compliance or poor performance
  • EO explicitly disclaims creating enforceable rights, limiting private party recourse
  • Dependent on appropriations availability per Section 4(b)
Executive Order 13821: Streamlining and Expediting Requests To Locate Broadband Facilities in Rural America · Executive Orders