HR1836-119

What This Bill Does

The GRANTED Act amends section 6409(b)(3) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which governs timely consideration of applications for federal easements, rights-of-way, and leases. It changes the trigger from a duly filed application to a complete application and adds a deemed-granted remedy: if an executive agency fails to grant or deny a complete application by the deadline, the application is granted the next day. An application is complete if the applicant has taken the first procedural step within its control and the agency does not send a written notice within 30 days identifying missing required information. A complete application is treated as received when all required information is submitted, or when the 30-day no-notice period expires for an application deemed complete. The amendments apply to applications received on or after enactment.

Who Benefits and How

Broadband infrastructure applicants benefit because agency silence after the deadline can turn a complete application into an approval. Wireless carriers benefit from stronger timelines for federal easements, rights-of-way, and leases needed for facilities. Rural broadband communities benefit if faster approvals shorten infrastructure deployment delays. Project developers benefit because agencies must identify missing information within 30 days or risk a complete-application finding.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Executive agencies must review applications quickly, issue missing-information notices within 30 days, and meet statutory deadlines. Federal land managers lose discretion to let complete applications sit without decision beyond the deadline. Community opponents of infrastructure projects may have less time to rely on agency delay as a brake on approvals. Agency counsel must manage disputes over whether an application was complete or deemed granted.

Key Provisions

• Amends federal easement, right-of-way, and lease timing rules to use complete applications.
• Creates a deemed-granted remedy when an executive agency misses the deadline.
• Requires agencies to identify missing required information within 30 days.
• Applies the new rules to applications received on or after enactment.