(1) Within 14 days after receiving the assignor's request for consent under section 71K (2), the operator may, in writing—
(a) consent to the assignment; or
(b) refuse to consent to the assignment.
(2) The operator is taken to consent to the assignment if the assignor makes a request under section 71K (2) and the operator does not take action under subsection (1) within 14 days after the request.