CLOSE THE GAP Act

The CLOSE THE GAP Act aims to streamline the permitting process for installing and modifying communications facilities, such as cell towers, on Federal land managed by agencies like the National Park Service and the Forest Service. It requires these agencies to create standardized, technology-neutral rules that allow applications to be processed simultaneously rather than sequentially and mandates that fees charged to applicants be based solely on the actual administrative costs incurred. To improve transparency and speed, the bill establishes online portals for submitting applications, requires agencies to track and report processing times, and creates a new working group to coordinate reviews across different Federal land management agencies. Additionally, the legislation simplifies environmental reviews for projects on previously analyzed land and allows for faster approval of public safety improvements at existing sites without requiring new environmental impact statements.