S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6446
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER, EPSTEIN, MILLER, VANEL, SAYEGH, SIMPSON,
   BLANKENBUSH, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local
   Governments
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the general municipal law, in relation to enacting the
   "wireless broadband eligible facility permitting  act"  providing  for
   uniform municipal regulation of certain wireless facilities
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
 declares  that  it  is  the  policy of this state to ensure the safe and
 efficient integration of certain wireless facility modifications  neces-
 sary for the provision of broadband and other advanced wireless services
 across the entirety of the state. It is the intent of this act to facil-
 itate  the  ongoing  demand  for  access to broadband and other advanced
 wireless services by exempting certain modifications of  existing  wire-
 less  facilities  from  the need for municipal zoning, land use or other
 discretionary siting permits, to eliminate  the  burdens  and  resources
 dedicated  by  municipal  zoning and land use agencies to review certain
 eligible modifications of such wireless facilities, and create a  state-
 wide  uniform process for municipal permitting of such eligible facility
 modifications. The legislature acknowledges and confirms  the  authority
 of  local governments to otherwise exercise zoning, land use and permit-
 ting authority within their territorial boundaries with  regard  to  the
 placement  and  construction  of  wireless facilities in accordance with
 other laws, rules and requirements that may apply to the siting of wire-
 less facilities.
   § 2. Short title. This act shall be known and  may  be  cited  as  the
 "wireless broadband eligible facility permitting act".
   § 3. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new article 13-F
 to read as follows:

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01396-03-5
 A. 6446                             2
              

 
                               ARTICLE 13-F
                            WIRELESS FACILITIES
 SECTION 305. DEFINITIONS.
         306. GENERAL MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OVER SITING OF WIRELESS FACILI-
                TIES.
         307. ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUESTS.
         308. APPLICATION TO SUPREME COURT BY AGGRIEVED PERSONS.
         309. PREEMPTION.
   §  305. DEFINITIONS.   FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING
 TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS  UNLESS  THE  CONTEXT  INDICATES
 OTHERWISE.
   1.  "APPLICANT"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  PERSON WHO FILES AN APPLICATION FOR
 WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE PURSUANT  TO  A  MUNICIPAL  ZONING  LAW  ADOPTED
 PURSUANT  TO  THIS  ARTICLE  OR  AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST WITH THE
 MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR.
   2. "APPLICATION" SHALL MEAN A ZONING APPLICATION FILED WITH A  MUNICI-
 PALITY  FOR  APPROVALS  TO  CONSTRUCT,  OPERATE  AND MAINTAIN A WIRELESS
 FACILITY, AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST OR AN APPLICATION  PURSUANT  TO
 THE STATE UNIFORM FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE.
   3.  "BASE  STATION"  SHALL  MEAN  A  STRUCTURE OR EQUIPMENT AT A FIXED
 LOCATION THAT ENABLES  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  LICENSED  OR
 AUTHORIZED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN USER EQUIPMENT AND A COMMUNI-
 CATIONS  NETWORK. SUCH TERM SHALL NOT ENCOMPASS A TOWER OR ANY EQUIPMENT
 ASSOCIATED WITH A TOWER.
   (A) SUCH TERM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (1) EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES SUCH AS
 PRIVATE, BROADCAST AND PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES,  AS  WELL  AS  UNLICENSED
 WIRELESS  SERVICES  AND  FIXED WIRELESS SERVICES SUCH AS MICROWAVE BACK-
 HAUL;
   (2) RADIO TRANSCEIVERS, ANTENNAS, COAXIAL OR FIBER-OPTIC CABLE,  REGU-
 LAR  AND  BACKUP POWER SUPPLIES, AND COMPARABLE EQUIPMENT, REGARDLESS OF
 TECHNOLOGICAL CONFIGURATION (INCLUDING DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA  SYSTEMS  AND
 SMALL-CELL NETWORKS); AND
   (3)  ANY  STRUCTURE  OTHER THAN A TOWER THAT, AT THE TIME THE RELEVANT
 PERMIT APPLICATION IS FILED WITH THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING  INSPECTOR,  HAS
 BEEN  REVIEWED  AND  APPROVED TO SUPPORT OR HOUSE EQUIPMENT DESCRIBED IN
 SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OR TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH UNDER THE APPLICABLE ZONING OR
 SITING PROCESS, OR UNDER ANOTHER STATE OR LOCAL REGULATORY REVIEW  PROC-
 ESS, EVEN IF THE STRUCTURE WAS NOT BUILT FOR THE SOLE OR PRIMARY PURPOSE
 OF PROVIDING SUCH SUPPORT.
   (B)  SUCH  TERM  SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY STRUCTURE THAT, AT THE TIME THE
 RELEVANT PERMIT APPLICATION IS FILED WITH THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPEC-
 TOR, DOES NOT SUPPORT OR HOUSE EQUIPMENT DESCRIBED IN  SUBPARAGRAPH  ONE
 OR TWO OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   4.  "COLLOCATION"  SHALL  MEAN  THE MOUNTING OR INSTALLATION OF TRANS-
 MISSION EQUIPMENT ON AN ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF
 TRANSMITTING AND/OR RECEIVING RADIO FREQUENCY SIGNALS FOR COMMUNICATIONS
 PURPOSES.
   5.  "CONCEALMENT  ELEMENT" SHALL MEAN A FEATURE OF A WIRELESS FACILITY
 INTENDED TO MAKE THE FACILITY LOOK LIKE SOMETHING OTHER THAN A  TELECOM-
 MUNICATIONS TOWER, SUCH AS A PINE TREE, FLAG POLE OR CHIMNEY.
   6. "DEPLOYMENT" SHALL MEAN THE PLACEMENT, CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION
 OF A WIRELESS FACILITY.
   7.  "ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST" SHALL MEAN ANY REQUEST FOR MODIFICA-
 TION OF AN EXISTING TOWER OR BASE STATION THAT  DOES  NOT  SUBSTANTIALLY
 CHANGE THE PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS OF SUCH TOWER OR BASE STATION, INVOLVING:
 A. 6446                             3
 
   (A) THE COLLOCATION OF NEW TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT;
   (B) THE REMOVAL OF TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT; OR
   (C) THE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT.
   8.  "ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE" SHALL MEAN ANY TOWER OR BASE STATION,
 PROVIDED THAT IT IS EXISTING AT THE TIME A PERMIT APPLICATION  IS  FILED
 WITH A MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR.
   9.  "EXISTING" SHALL MEAN THAT A CONSTRUCTED TOWER OR BASE STATION HAS
 BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED UNDER THE APPLICABLE ZONING OR  SITING  PROC-
 ESS, OR UNDER ANOTHER STATE OR LOCAL REGULATORY REVIEW PROCESS, PROVIDED
 THAT  A  TOWER  THAT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BUT WAS LAWFULLY
 CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO THE CURRENT APPLICABLE ZONING  OR  SITING  PROCESS,
 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE EXISTING.
   10. "MODIFICATION" SHALL MEAN THE IMPROVEMENT, UPGRADE OR EXPANSION OF
 AN  EXISTING  WIRELESS FACILITY, BASE STATION OR WIRELESS SUPPORT STRUC-
 TURE THAT IS NOT A REPAIR, MAINTENANCE OR IN KIND REPLACEMENT OF  EXIST-
 ING TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT.
   11.  "MUNICIPALITY"  SHALL MEAN A CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE, INCLUDING ANY
 AGENT, BOARD, AUTHORITY, COMMISSION, AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OR OTHER INSTRU-
 MENTALITY THEREOF.
   12. "MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR" SHALL  MEAN  THE  OFFICIAL  CHARGED
 WITH  ISSUING  BUILDING  PERMITS  OR  ENFORCING  THE  STATE UNIFORM FIRE
 PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY.    IN  THE  EVENT  A
 MUNICIPALITY  DOES  NOT  HAVE  A MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH ISSUING
 BUILDING PERMITS OR ENFORCING THE  STATE  UNIFORM  FIRE  PREVENTION  AND
 BUILDING  CODE, SUCH TERM SHALL BE DEEMED TO REFER TO THE ENTITY CHARGED
 WITH ENFORCING THE BUILDING CODE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF  SECTION
 THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
   13.  "MUNICIPAL ZONING LAW" SHALL MEAN ANY LOCAL LAW, ORDINANCE, RULE,
 REGULATION, POLICY OR GUIDELINE WHICH REGULATES OR GOVERNS THE  LOCATION
 OR  USE OF STRUCTURES OR LAND ADOPTED BY A MUNICIPALITY PURSUANT TO THIS
 CHAPTER, THE GENERAL CITY LAW, THE TOWN LAW, THE VILLAGE LAW AND/OR  ANY
 OTHER APPLICABLE AUTHORITY, INCLUDING HOME RULE LAW.
   14.  "SITE"  SHALL  MEAN,  FOR  TOWERS OTHER THAN TOWERS IN THE PUBLIC
 RIGHTS-OF-WAY, THE CURRENT BOUNDARIES OF THE LEASED  OR  OWNED  PROPERTY
 SURROUNDING THE TOWER AND ANY ACCESS OR UTILITY EASEMENTS RELATED TO THE
 SITE,  AND, FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURES, FURTHER RESTRICTED TO
 THAT AREA IN PROXIMITY TO THE STRUCTURE AND TO OTHER TRANSMISSION EQUIP-
 MENT DEPLOYED ON THE GROUND.
   15. "SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE" SHALL MEAN A MODIFICATION THAT  SUBSTANTIALLY
 CHANGES  THE  PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS OF AN ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE IF IT
 MEETS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A) FOR TOWERS OTHER THAN  TOWERS  IN  THE  PUBLIC  RIGHTS-OF-WAY,  IT
 INCREASES  THE  HEIGHT  OF  THE TOWER BY MORE THAN TEN PERCENT OR BY THE
 HEIGHT OF ONE ADDITIONAL ANTENNA ARRAY WITH SEPARATION FROM THE  NEAREST
 EXISTING  ANTENNA  NOT  TO EXCEED TWENTY FEET, WHICHEVER IS GREATER; AND
 FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURES, IT INCREASES THE  HEIGHT  OF  THE
 STRUCTURE  BY  MORE THAN TEN PERCENT OR MORE THAN TEN FEET, WHICHEVER IS
 GREATER. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARAGRAPH FOR MEASURING HEIGHT OF  SUCH
 ADDITIONAL  ANTENNA  ARRAY, SEPARATION FROM THE NEAREST EXISTING ANTENNA
 SHALL BE MEASURED AS THE DISTANCE FROM THE TOP OF THE  HIGHEST  EXISTING
 ANTENNA  ON  THE  TOWER  TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROPOSED NEW ANTENNA TO BE
 DEPLOYED ABOVE IT. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, OTHER  CHANGES  IN
 HEIGHT  SHALL  BE  MEASURED FROM THE ORIGINAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE IN CASES
 WHERE DEPLOYMENTS ARE OR WILL BE  SEPARATED  HORIZONTALLY,  SUCH  AS  ON
 BUILDINGS' ROOFTOPS; AND IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, CHANGES IN HEIGHT SHALL
 BE  MEASURED FROM THE DIMENSIONS OF THE TOWER OR BASE STATION, INCLUSIVE
 A. 6446                             4
 
 OF ORIGINALLY APPROVED APPURTENANCES AND  ANY  MODIFICATIONS  THAT  WERE
 APPROVED  PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF SECTION 1455(1) OF TITLE FORTY-SEVEN
 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE;
   (B)  FOR  TOWERS  OTHER  THAN  TOWERS  IN THE PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY, IT
 INVOLVES ADDING AN APPURTENANCE TO THE BODY  OF  THE  TOWER  THAT  WOULD
 PROTRUDE  FROM THE EDGE OF THE TOWER MORE THAN TWENTY FEET, OR MORE THAN
 THE WIDTH OF THE TOWER STRUCTURE  AT  THE  LEVEL  OF  THE  APPURTENANCE,
 WHICHEVER  IS GREATER. FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURES, A SUBSTAN-
 TIAL CHANGE SHALL MEAN AN APPURTENANCE IS  ADDED  TO  THE  BODY  OF  THE
 STRUCTURE  THAT  WOULD  PROTRUDE  FROM THE EDGE OF THE STRUCTURE BY MORE
 THAN SIX FEET;
   (C) FOR ANY ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, IT  INVOLVES  INSTALLATION  OF
 MORE THAN THE STANDARD NUMBER OF NEW EQUIPMENT CABINETS FOR THE TECHNOL-
 OGY  INVOLVED,  BUT  NOT  TO EXCEED FOUR CABINETS; OR, FOR TOWERS IN THE
 PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND BASE STATIONS, IT INVOLVES INSTALLATION OF  ANY
 NEW EQUIPMENT CABINETS ON THE GROUND IF THERE ARE NO PRE-EXISTING GROUND
 CABINETS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUCTURE, OR ELSE INVOLVES INSTALLATION OF
 GROUND CABINETS THAT ARE MORE THAN TEN PERCENT LARGER IN HEIGHT OR OVER-
 ALL VOLUME THAN ANY OTHER GROUND CABINETS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUCTURE;
   (D)  IT  ENTAILS ANY EXCAVATION OR DEPLOYMENT OUTSIDE THE CURRENT SITE
 EXCEPT THAT FOR TOWERS OTHER THAN TOWERS LOCATED IN THE  PUBLIC  RIGHTS-
 OF-WAY,  IT  ENTAILS ANY EXCAVATION OR DEPLOYMENT OF TRANSMISSION EQUIP-
 MENT OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT SITE BY MORE THAN THIRTY FEET IN ANY  DIREC-
 TION, EXCLUDING ANY ACCESS OR UTILITY EASEMENTS CURRENTLY RELATED TO THE
 SITE;
   (E)  IT  WOULD DEFEAT THE CONCEALMENT ELEMENTS OF THE ELIGIBLE SUPPORT
 STRUCTURE, PROVIDED THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE ON THE RECORD THAT THE  MUNI-
 CIPALITY  CONSIDERED  SUCH  CONCEALMENT  ELEMENT  IN ITS APPROVAL OF THE
 ORIGINAL FACILITY; OR
   (F) IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH  CONDITIONS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  THE  SITING
 APPROVAL  OF  THE  CONSTRUCTION  OR MODIFICATION OF THE ELIGIBLE SUPPORT
 STRUCTURE OR BASE STATION EQUIPMENT; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS  LIMI-
 TATION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY MODIFICATION THAT IS NON-COMPLIANT ONLY IN
 A  MANNER  THAT WOULD NOT EXCEED THE THRESHOLDS IDENTIFIED IN PARAGRAPHS
 (A) THROUGH (D) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   16. "TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT" SHALL  MEAN  EQUIPMENT  THAT  FACILITATES
 TRANSMISSION  FOR  ANY  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  LICENSED OR
 AUTHORIZED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES INCLUDING, BUT  NOT  LIMITED
 TO,  RADIO  TRANSCEIVERS,  ANTENNAS,  COAXIAL  OR FIBER-OPTIC CABLE, AND
 REGULAR AND BACKUP POWER SUPPLY. SUCH TERM SHALL INCLUDE EQUIPMENT ASSO-
 CIATED WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES INCLUDING, BUT NOT  LIMITED
 TO, PRIVATE, BROADCAST AND PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, AS WELL AS UNLICENSED
 WIRELESS  SERVICES  AND  FIXED WIRELESS SERVICES SUCH AS MICROWAVE BACK-
 HAUL.
   17. "TOWER" SHALL MEAN ANY STRUCTURE BUILT FOR  THE  SOLE  OR  PRIMARY
 PURPOSE  OF SUPPORTING ANY FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LICENSED OR
 AUTHORIZED ANTENNAS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED  FACILITIES,  INCLUDING  STRUC-
 TURES  THAT ARE CONSTRUCTED FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES INCLUD-
 ING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PRIVATE, BROADCAST AND PUBLIC SAFETY  SERVICES,
 AS WELL AS UNLICENSED WIRELESS SERVICES AND FIXED WIRELESS SERVICES SUCH
 AS MICROWAVE BACKHAUL, AND THE ASSOCIATED SITE.
   18.  "WIRELESS  FACILITY"  SHALL  MEAN THE WIRELESS SERVICES EQUIPMENT
 INCLUDING TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT,  BASE  STATION,  TOWER  AND  ACCESSORY
 EQUIPMENT, UTILITIES AND OTHER SITE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS.
   19. "WIRELESS SERVICES" SHALL MEAN THE USE OF ANY WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY,
 INCLUDING  WITHOUT  LIMITATION,  COMMERCIAL  MOBILE SERVICES, COMMERCIAL
 A. 6446                             5
 
 MOBILE RADIO SERVICES,  UNLICENSED  WIRELESS  SERVICES,  COMMON  CARRIER
 WIRELESS  EXCHANGE ACCESS SERVICES, CELLULAR RADIOTELEPHONE, SPECIALIZED
 MOBILE RADIO SYSTEMS, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES,  ADVANCED  WIRE-
 LESS  SERVICES,  TWO-WAY  PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES, AND ANY SUCH OTHER
 WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE UTILIZED,  IN  ORDER
 TO TRANSMIT AND/OR RECEIVE RADIO WAVES.
   § 306. GENERAL MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OVER SITING OF WIRELESS FACILITIES.
 1.  A MUNICIPALITY MAY ENACT MUNICIPAL ZONING LAWS REGULATING THE SITING
 AND  INSTALLATION OF BASE STATIONS AND TOWERS PROVIDED THAT SUCH MUNICI-
 PAL ZONING LAWS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAWS, INCLUDING  THE  PROVISIONS  OF
 SECTIONS 332(C)(7) AND 1455(1) OF TITLE FORTY-SEVEN OF THE UNITED STATES
 CODE, SECTIONS 1.6001 ET SEQ. OF TITLE FORTY-SEVEN OF THE CODE OF FEDER-
 AL REGULATIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2. EVERY MUNICIPALITY SHALL APPROVE, OR ISSUE A WRITTEN DECISION DENY-
 ING, AN APPLICATION FOR AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST WITHIN SIXTY DAYS
 OF  RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION BEING FILED WITH THE MUNICIPALITY, AS SET
 FORTH IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 307. ELIGIBLE FACILITIES  REQUESTS.  1.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER
 PROVISION  OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT DENY AND SHALL
 APPROVE ANY ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST FOR A MODIFICATION OF AN  EXIST-
 ING  WIRELESS  TOWER  OR BASE STATION THAT DOES NOT SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE
 THE PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS OF SUCH TOWER OR BASE  STATION.  A  MUNICIPALITY
 SHALL  NOT  REQUIRE REVIEW PURSUANT TO ANY MUNICIPAL ZONING LAW OR OTHER
 DISCRETIONARY PERMITS FOR ANY ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST.
   2. ALL ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUESTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE  MUNICI-
 PAL  BUILDING  INSPECTOR FOR REVIEW WITH ANY APPLICATION OR APPLICATIONS
 FOR PERMITS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE STATE  UNIFORM  FIRE  PREVENTION
 AND  BUILDING  CODE, AND SHALL NOT OTHERWISE BE SUBJECT TO ANY MUNICIPAL
 ZONING LAW WHICH MAY OTHERWISE APPLY TO WIRELESS FACILITIES.
   3. ALL ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUESTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL
 QUALITY REVIEW PURSUANT TO ARTICLE EIGHT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVA-
 TION  LAW ON THE BASIS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF AN ELIGIBLE FACILI-
 TIES REQUEST IS AN OFFICIAL ACT OF A  MINISTERIAL  NATURE  INVOLVING  NO
 EXERCISE  OF  DISCRETION, AND THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRA-
 TIVE APPROVAL BY THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR PREDICATED  SOLELY  ON
 COMPLIANCE  OR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION. NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESS-
 MENT FORM SHALL BE REQUIRED FOR REVIEW OF AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW.
   4. WHEN A PERSON FILES AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW  AND  ASSERTS  IN
 WRITING  THAT A REQUEST FOR MODIFICATION IS COVERED BY THIS SECTION, THE
 MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR MAY ONLY REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OR  INFORMA-
 TION  CUSTOMARILY  REQUIRED  IN  A  BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION AND SUCH
 OTHER INFORMATION REASONABLY RELATED TO DETERMINING WHETHER THE  REQUEST
 MEETS  THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE. A MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR
 MAY ADOPT A FORM FOR USE IN ASSESSING ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW FILINGS
 IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER CUSTOMARY FORMS  USED  FOR  THE  PROCESSING  OF
 BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
   5. THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR SHALL REVIEW AND APPROVE AN APPLI-
 CATION  OF  ELIGIBLE  FACILITIES REVIEW AND ISSUE ANY NECESSARY BUILDING
 AND/OR ELECTRICAL PERMITS WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE  SUBMISSION,  SUBJECT
 TO TOLLING AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE
 MUNICIPAL  BUILDING  INSPECTOR DETERMINES THAT THE MODIFICATION DOES NOT
 MEET THE CRITERIA FOR AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES  REVIEW  IN  WHICH  CASE  A
 WRITTEN  DENIAL  THEREOF  SHALL  BE TRANSMITTED WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE
 FILING DATE. IF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING  INSPECTOR  DETERMINES  THAT  THE
 MODIFICATION  DOES  NOT  MEET  THE  CRITERIA  FOR AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES
 REVIEW, THE REASONS SHALL BE STATED IN THE WRITTEN DENIAL AND INCLUDE  A
 A. 6446                             6
 
 DETERMINATION  OF  WHAT  IF  ANY APPLICATION SHALL BE REQUIRED UNDER ANY
 MUNICIPAL ZONING LAW.
   6.  A MUNICIPALITY SHALL NOT IMPOSE ON AN APPLICANT ANY FEES OR CHARG-
 ES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ESCROW FEES, MUNICIPAL CONSULTANT FEES,
 OR ANY THIRD-PARTY FEES INCURRED BY THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR  IN
 REVIEWING  THE ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST APPLICATION, THAT EXCEED FIVE
 HUNDRED DOLLARS PER APPLICATION, UNLESS OTHERWISE  LIMITED  BY  FEDERAL,
 STATE OR LOCAL LAW.
   7.  THE SIXTY-DAY REVIEW PERIOD BEGINS TO RUN WHEN THE APPLICATION FOR
 AN ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW AND APPLICATION FOR ANY NECESSARY  PERMITS
 ARE FILED, AND MAY BE TOLLED ONLY (A) BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE MUNICI-
 PAL  BUILDING  INSPECTOR  AND  THE  APPLICANT OR (B) WHERE THE MUNICIPAL
 BUILDING INSPECTOR DETERMINES THAT THE ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW AND/OR
 ANY NECESSARY PERMIT APPLICATIONS ARE INCOMPLETE  AND  PROVIDES  WRITTEN
 NOTICE  TO  THE  APPLICANT  WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF RECEIPT OF SUCH PERMIT
 APPLICATIONS SPECIFICALLY DELINEATING ALL MISSING SUPPORTING INFORMATION
 OR DOCUMENTATION THAT IS  REQUIRED.  THE  TIMEFRAME  FOR  REVIEW  BEGINS
 RUNNING  AGAIN  WHEN  THE  APPLICANT  MAKES A SUPPLEMENTAL SUBMISSION IN
 RESPONSE TO ANY NOTICE OF INCOMPLETENESS. ANY NOTICE  OF  INCOMPLETENESS
 MUST  COMPLY  WITH THE PROVISIONS OF FEDERAL LAW AND REGULATION. TO TOLL
 THE  TIMEFRAME  FOR  INCOMPLETENESS,  THE  REVIEWING  MUNICIPALITY  MUST
 PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE APPLICANT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF RECEIPT OF
 THE  APPLICATION, CLEARLY AND SPECIFICALLY DELINEATING ALL MISSING DOCU-
 MENTS OR INFORMATION.   A MUNICIPALITY  MAY  REQUIRE  THE  APPLICANT  TO
 PROVIDE  DOCUMENTATION  OR  INFORMATION  ONLY  TO  THE EXTENT REASONABLY
 RELATED TO DETERMINING WHETHER THE REQUEST  MEETS  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF
 THIS SECTION AND OF RELEVANT FEDERAL LAW AND REGULATION.  A MUNICIPALITY
 MAY  NOT REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO SUBMIT ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION, INCLUD-
 ING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DOCUMENTATION INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE THE NEED FOR
 SUCH WIRELESS FACILITIES OR TO JUSTIFY THE BUSINESS DECISION  TO  MODIFY
 SUCH  WIRELESS  FACILITIES.  FOLLOWING  A  SUPPLEMENTAL  SUBMISSION, THE
 MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR SHALL NOTIFY THE APPLICANT WITHIN TEN  DAYS
 IF  THE  SUPPLEMENTAL SUBMISSION DID NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION IDENTI-
 FIED IN THE ORIGINAL NOTICE DELINEATING MISSING  INFORMATION  AND  THESE
 TOLLING PROCEDURES. SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT NOTICES OF INCOMPLETENESS SHALL
 ONLY  TOLL THE TIMEFRAME FOR REVIEW TO THE EXTENT THEY REQUEST DOCUMENTS
 OR INFORMATION THAT WERE DELINEATED IN THE  ORIGINAL  NOTICE  OF  INCOM-
 PLETENESS.
   8.  IN  THE EVENT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR FAILS TO APPROVE OR
 DENY AN APPLICATION FOR ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW AND ISSUE ANY  NECES-
 SARY  PERMITS WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS
 SECTION, SUBJECT TO TOLLING SET  FORTH  IN  SUBDIVISION  SEVEN  OF  THIS
 SECTION,  THE ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REVIEW AND ANY NECESSARY PERMITS SHALL
 BE DEEMED GRANTED. THE DEEMED GRANT APPROVAL WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE  WHEN
 THE  APPLICANT NOTIFIES THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR IN WRITING THAT
 THE SIXTY-DAY PERIOD, AND ANY APPLICABLE TOLLING, HAS  EXPIRED  AND  THE
 PERMITS  HAVE  BEEN DEEMED GRANTED BY OPERATION OF LAW. THE MUNICIPALITY
 SHALL ISSUE ANY NECESSARY PERMITS WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS OF  THE  DATE  THE
 MUNICIPALITY RECEIVES NOTICE OF THE DEEMED GRANT APPROVAL.
   §  308.  APPLICATION TO SUPREME COURT BY AGGRIEVED PERSONS. ANY PERSON
 OR PERSONS, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY AGGRIEVED BY ANY ACT OF A  MUNICIPALITY
 THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE OR A FAILURE TO
 ACT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT THEREWITH, MAY, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER SUCH
 ACTION  OR FAILURE TO ACT, COMMENCE AN ACTION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVEN-
 TY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES IN THE  SUPREME  COURT  FOR
 A. 6446                             7
 
 THE  COUNTY  IN  WHICH  SUCH  MUNICIPALITY IS SITUATE. THE SUPREME COURT
 SHALL HEAR AND DECIDE SUCH ACTION ON AN EXPEDITED BASIS.
   §  309. PREEMPTION. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL SUPERSEDE ANY
 INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW RELATING TO  THE  PLACEMENT,  COLLOCATION,
 MODIFICATION OR MAINTENANCE OF WIRELESS FACILITIES.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.