Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act of 2025
The Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act of 2025 would modify how state and local governments review requests to modify existing wireless facilities (such as towers, base stations, or supportive structures). The core change is to accelerate and streamline approvals for modifications that do not significantly change a facility’s physical size but improve resilience or public safety. Under the bill, such requests are largely treated as automatically approved if a government body does not act within 60 days, and they cannot be denied if they meet the defined eligible facilities criteria. The bill also tightens submission rules (limiting required documentation and pre-application steps) and introduces detailed procedures for incomplete applications and appeals. It directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue implementing rules within 180 days and specifies that the amendments apply to eligible facilities requests submitted after enactment. In short, the measure aims to speed up and standardize modest-but-critical infrastructure upgrades (e.g., for backup power, hardening, or more reliable connections) to improve wireless resiliency, while limiting local permitting hurdles and extending federal oversight to ensure timely decisions.
Key Points
- 1Deemed approval for eligible facilities requests: If a state/local government does not approve or issue a written determination within 60 days of a properly submitted eligible facilities request, the request is deemed approved. A written determination must specify reasons and cite the applicable rule or standard.
- 2Narrowly defined eligible facilities requests: Modifications that do not substantially change a tower, base station, or eligible support structure and involve collocation, removal, replacement, or installation/improvement of equipment that improves resiliency or provides direct public safety benefits (backup power, hardening, or more reliable connectivity).
- 3Streamlined submission and limited documentation: No pre-application requirements; the submitting party need only provide information reasonably related to determining eligibility, as identified in publicly available rules. The government cannot require extra documentation beyond what is necessary to determine eligibility.
- 4Detailed completeness and tolling framework: If information is missing, the government must notify the applicant with specific reasons. The 60-day clock can be tolled while the applicant supplies missing information, with further tolling for subsequent incomplete responses under defined rules.
- 5Enforcement and expedited review: A party can file suit in federal district court to enforce these provisions, and the court must handle such actions on an expedited basis.
- 6FCC implementing rules and applicability: The FCC must issue final implementing rules within 180 days of enactment. The amendments apply to eligible facilities requests submitted on or after enactment, as defined by a specific submission timing framework.