U.S. Forest Service Seeks Fees for Wireless Facilities on its Lands

The U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments through February 22 on a proposal to charge fees to owners of permanent wireless installations on the lands it administers. These fees would apply mostly to commercial wireless service providers but could also impact owners of amateur radio repeaters located on Forest Service land. 

According to Newsline, the fees would cover the Forest Services costs in maintaining and managing the sites and are required y the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. They would not apply to temporary operations by visiting hams.

Comments are being accepted through February 22 via the Federal Rulemaking Portal. They should reference "RIN 0596-AD44." We recommend, as always, that you read the actual proposed rules before filing comments.