with respect to a project for which a permit is sought under that subsection shall participate in the prefiling process. (ii) State, Tribal, and local agencies The Commission shall facilitate and encourage State, Tribal, and local agencies, including any State commission or other entity described in subsection (c)(1), to participate in the prefiling process for a qualifying project. (C) Rulemaking (i) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the FASTER Act of 2023 , the Commission shall promulgate a final rule to establish a prefiling process for use in accordance with this section. (ii) Updates The Commission may revise and update, as the Commission determines to be appropriate, the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect to the prefiling process established under clause (i), subject to the condition that any revision or update is consistent with the making of good faith efforts to engage stakeholders early in the review and permitting processes for national interest electric transmission facilities. (8) Expediting application processing (A) In general A Federal or State agency may allow an applicant seeking a Federal authorization for a qualifying project to fund a third-party contractor selected by the Federal or State agency to assist in reviewing the application. (B) Direct funding for expedited consideration (i) In general Beginning on the date of enactment of the FASTER Act of 2023 , a Federal or State agency may accept and expend funds contributed by an applicant seeking a Federal authorization for a qualifying project to carry out an activity that directly and meaningfully contributes to expediting the consideration by the agency of the application. (ii) Relation to existing discretionary funds Any funds received by an agency under this subparagraph may be used only to carry out activities that would not otherwise occur within the same timeframe using discretionary funds provided in an appropriations Act. (C) Effect on application consideration In carrying out this