If you've ever waited months for the government to approve a permit, you know how frustrating bureaucratic delays can be. This bill targets the process for installing cell towers and other communications equipment on federal land. When a company submits a complete application for an easement or lease, the federal agency has a set deadline to approve or deny it. If the agency misses that deadline, the application is automatically approved. The bill also clarifies what counts as a "complete" application, giving agencies 30 days to flag any missing information before the clock starts ticking.
Congressional Summary
Granting Remaining Applications Not Treated Efficiently or Delayed Act of 2025 or the GRANTED Act of 2025This bill provides for the automatic approval of a complete application to place or maintain communications facilities (e.g., telecommunications antennas and equipment) on federal property after the application has been pending with a federal agency for 270 days. (Under current law, individuals and entities may apply for an easement, right-of-way, or lease to install, construct, modify, or maintain a communications facility in, on, or over federal property. The federal agency with control over the relevant property is required to act on such an application within 270 days.)The bill requires agencies to act on applications within 270 days of their receipt of a complete application, rather than within 270 days of an application’s filing. Under the bill, an application is considered complete when the applicant (1) has taken the first procedural step within their control to submit the application in accordance with procedures established by the agency, and (2) has not been notified of any deficiency in the application within 30 days of its submission. The bill also establishes criteria for determining when an application is considered received by an agency. Finally, the bill provides for the automatic grant of applications that remain pending with agencies after the 270-day deadline.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Action Date
- Date Added
- 2026-04-02