Legislation introduced in Congress last week would automatically approve any applications for broadband infrastructure on federally owned land if the review period for the project takes longer than 270 days.
Congressional Representative Jay Obernolte, whose district includes the Morongo Basin, has introduced this legislation, known as H.R. 3340, the Granting Remaining Applications Not Treated Efficiently or Delayed (GRANTED) Act, to expedite the creation of high-speed broadband networks. The legislation is part of a larger rural broadband package that was passed by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on Wednesday (May 29).
Currently, there is a 270-day deadline for applications to approve projects on Federal land. Obernolte’s proposed legislation would see all applications that have not been reviewed within that 270-day period be approved automatically, without reviews of environmental impact.
By expediting development on federally owned land, Obernolte hopes that this legislation will bring better internet services to rural communities like the Morongo Basin, which are surrounded by large swaths of federal land, by fast-tracking development.
The larger package of legislation is expected to be considered by the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce this week.
