For the purpose of promoting private investment in broadband infrastructure, the county adopts the following.
(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PERMIT. Any local permit, license, certificate, approval, registration or similar form of approval required by policy, administrative rule, regulation, ordinance or resolution with respect to a project.
PROJECT. The construction or deployment of wireline or wireless communications facilities to provide communications services (as defined in I.C. 8-1-32.5-3) in a unit.
(B) Application. Notwithstanding any other provision of county ordinances, regulations, policies or practices, the governing body of the unit shall:
(1) Appoint a single point of contact for all matters related to a project;
(2) Establish procedures to allow all forms, applications and documentation related to a project to be filed or submitted and signed by electronic means;
(3) Review and approve or reject all applications for a permit related to a project within ten business days after an application is filed or submitted; and
(4) Assure that after an application is approved pursuant to division (B)(3) above, any inspections, including any additional necessary approvals, related to a project will occur in a timely and expeditious manner.
(C) Processes and procedures. The county shall adopt adequate processes and procedures to implement the provisions of division (B) above. Processes and procedures established hereunder may not do the following:
(1) Require an applicant to designate a final contractor to complete a project;
(2) Impose a fee to review an application or issue a permit for a project;
(3) Impose a seasonal moratorium on the issuance of permits for a project; or
(4) Discriminate among communications service providers or utilities with respect to any action described in this section or otherwise related to a project, including granting access to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and poles, river and bridge crossings and any other physical assets owned or controlled by the county.
(Ord. 2019-27, passed 1-6-2019)