§ 160A-296.1.  Facilitation of broadband deployment.

(a) Except as provided in G.S. 160D-935, a city shall issue a written decision to approve or deny an application for a permit or encroachment to conduct activities in the city's rights-of-way that has been submitted by an entity deploying broadband service, as defined in G.S. 143B-1373(a), within 30 days of the submission of the application. If a written decision has not been issued within the 30-day period, the application shall be deemed approved by the city. An application submitted pursuant to this section shall include information concerning the identity of the applicant and any contractors for the applicant, the type of installation and related facilities to be installed, the proposed construction time line, and the location or address of the proposed construction or installation. A city may deny an application that fails to meet reasonable guidelines established pursuant to this section and shall provide the reasons for denial to the applicant. An applicant may cure the deficiencies identified in the application denial and resubmit a revised application at no additional cost to the applicant. A city shall review only the portion of a resubmitted application relating to the deficiencies initially identified and shall approve or deny the resubmitted application within 10 days of resubmission. A city shall include a method to designate applications submitted pursuant to this section as being submitted by an entity deploying broadband service.

(b) In administering the provisions of this section, a city may do the following:

(1) Determine reasonable guidelines for the installation of facilities in the city's rights-of-way to prevent any activities from interfering with or endangering public use of city streets.

(2) Require an applicant to promptly repair any damage caused by the applicant or an agent of the applicant.

(3) Require that an applicant execute an affidavit evidencing financial responsibility or obtain commercially reasonable insurance that demonstrates adequate resources to repair any damage caused by the applicant or an agent of the applicant.

A city may not impose additional conditions or requirements on an applicant beyond those listed in this subsection. A city may not require an entity that has been issued a valid certificate of public convenience by the Public Utilities Commission or a franchise to provide video programming services issued by the Secretary of State to enter into a master encroachment agreement or other similar agreement as a condition of approval of an application under this section. (2021-180, s. 38.9(a).)