1. Remote tower pilot program for rural or small communities (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a pilot program under which, upon approval of an application submitted by an operator of a public-use airport, the Secretary shall install and operate at the airport a remote air traffic control tower in order to assess the operational benefits of remote air traffic control towers. (b) Applications The operator of an airport seeking to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary for approval an application that is in such form and contains such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Selection criteria (1) Selection of airports From among the applications submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary, after consultation with representatives of labor organizations representing operators and employees of the air traffic control system, shall select for participation in the pilot program 7 airports as follows: (A) One nonhub, primary airport. (B) Three nonprimary airports without existing air traffic control towers. (C) Two airports with air traffic control towers participating in a program established under section 47124 of title 49, United States Code. (D) One airport selected at the discretion of the Secretary. (2) Priority selection In selecting from among the applications submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that can best demonstrate the capabilities and potential of remote air traffic control towers. (3) Authority to reallocate airport selection If the Secretary receives an insufficient number of applications, the Secretary may reallocate the distribution of airport sites described in paragraph (1). (4) Multiple remote facilities If practicable and necessary, the 3 remote air traffic control towers installed at nonprimary airports pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) may co-locate remote facilities to assess the benefits and efficiencies of consolidating such