H.R. 1588, Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act

February 24, 2026

Cost Estimate

As reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 4, 2026

H.R. 1588, Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act As reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 4, 2026
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2026	2026-2031	2026-2036
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		*	*	not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No
* = between zero and $500,000.

H.R. 1588 would require the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) to report to the Congress on whether the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Forest Service have established online portals to process requests to place and operate communications facilities on federal land and to identify any barriers to the portals’ establishment. The NTIA would be required to report 90 days after enactment and every 60 days thereafter. The bill would not require DOI or the Forest Service to establish such a portal, only to notify the NTIA if they do.

Using information about the cost of similar provisions, CBO estimates that the cost of the reports would not be significant; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Hughes. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel Director, Congressional Budget Office

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office