GRANTED Act of 2023 Granting Remaining Applications Not Treated Efficiently or Delayed Act of 2023
Impact
The GRANTED Act aims to streamline the application process, making it significantly faster for communications infrastructure projects to receive approval. This ease of access is expected to facilitate the expansion of communication networks, particularly important in an era where such infrastructure plays a critical role in economic growth and connectivity. By addressing inefficient processes and potential delays, the bill intends to bolster the overall infrastructure support by making it easier to deploy essential utilities and services across the nation.
Summary
House Bill 3340, titled the 'Granting Remaining Applications Not Treated Efficiently or Delayed Act of 2023' or 'GRANTED Act of 2023', seeks to amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The main objective of the bill is to expedite the consideration process for applications related to federal easements, rights-of-way, and leases concerning communications facility installations. It proposes that if an executive agency does not grant or deny a complete application within a specified deadline, the application will be deemed granted automatically the day following the deadline specified.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding HB3340 revolve around the implications of granting applications deemed automatically approved without further deliberation. Critics may argue that the automatic granting clause could undermine thorough regulatory reviews, potentially leading to oversights in compliance with public safety and environmental standards. The effectiveness of oversight from concerned stakeholders could diminish since the expedited approvals may prevent adequate scrutiny of applications that often require detailed assessments for their impacts on local communities and environments.