H.R. 1836 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Mar 4, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySpeeds up phone tower approvals on federal land
Right now, companies that want to put communications equipment like cell towers on federal property have to wait for agencies to approve their applications. This bill sets a 270-day deadline for agencies to make a decision, and if an agency doesn't act by then, the application is automatically approved. The bill also clarifies when an application counts as complete and when an agency officially receives it.
How it affects you
Telecommunications companies and internet providers that want to build or upgrade cell towers and other communications equipment on federal property would see faster approvals. For the average person, this could eventually mean better cell coverage in areas where towers are placed on government land, though the bill itself focuses on speeding up the permitting process rather than expanding where towers can go.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 4, 2025)
Granting Remaining Applications Not Treated Efficiently or Delayed Act of 2025 or the GRANTED Act of 2025
This 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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1836
A BILL
GRANTED Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) · Introduced Mar 4, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 4, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”