Tennessee § 4-3-709 - Designation as broadband ready community.

§ 4-3-709. Designation as broadband ready community.

A political subdivision may apply to the department of economic and community development for designation as a “broadband ready community” pursuant to guidelines established by the department. The guidelines for designation must include a requirement that the political subdivision has adopted an efficient and streamlined ordinance or policy for reviewing applications and issuing permits related to projects relative to broadband services. The ordinance or policy must contain the following: A single point of contact for all matters related to a project; A provision that all applications related to a project will be reviewed and either approved or denied within thirty (30) business days after the application is submitted; and An authorization that all forms, applications, and documentation related to a project may be signed by electronic means, where possible. A political subdivision shall not be designated a broadband ready community if the ordinance or policy: Requires an applicant to designate a final contractor to complete a project; Imposes an unreasonable fee for reviewing an application or issuing a permit for a project. A fee that exceeds one hundred dollars ($100) is unreasonable for the purposes of this section; Imposes a seasonal moratorium on the issuance of permits for projects; or Discriminates among communications services providers or utilities with respect to any action related to a broadband project, including granting access to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and poles, and any other physical assets owned or controlled by the political subdivision. Acts 2017, ch. 228, § 2. Compiler's Notes. Former § 4-3-709 was transferred to 4-3-511 by Acts 2016, ch. 743, § 11, effective April 7, 2016. Acts 2017, ch. 228, § 1 provided that the act, which enacted this section, shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act.” Effective Dates. Acts 2017, ch. 228, § 16. April 24, 2017.