HB2002 SFAT #2 Maynard 4-9

Childs  7502

 

Senator Maynard moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 2002—A BILL to repeal §17-2E-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to repeal §31G-1-6, §31G-1-9, and §31G-1-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §17-2E-3, §17-2E-5, §17-2E-7, §17-2E-8, and §17-2E-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §31G-1-4 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §31G-1A-1, §31G-1A-2, §31G-1A-3, §31G-1A-4, §31G-1A-5, and §31G-1A-6; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §31G-3-3 and §31G-3-4; to amend and reenact §31G-4-1, §31G-4-2, and §31G-4-4 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §31G-6-1 and §31G-6-2, all relating to broadband expansion policies; establishing requirements for agreements between the Division of Highways and an entity seeking to install telecommunications facilities; providing that if such installation can be accommodated as a utility pursuant to federal and state law, the division shall issue a permit for access to rights-of-way; providing for permit procedures and requirements; requiring notice to the Office of Broadband of a telecommunication entity’s intent to seek construction in division rights-of-way; providing the Office of Broadband is responsible for ensuring compliance with certain terms of permit requirements; granting the division authority to determine whether its use of a telecommunication carrier’s trench warrants apportionment of costs to it; modifying exceptions to dig once requirements; providing the division authority to allow carriers to use excess telecommunications facilities; allowing the division to transfer or assign ownership of excess telecommunications facilities to another state agency upon approval by Governor; providing rulemaking authority to the division; modifying the powers and duties of Broadband Enhancement Council; establishing the Office of Broadband within the Department of Economic Development; creating the position of the Director of the Office of Broadband; requiring the Office of Broadband report annually to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance; establishing the powers and duties of the Office of Broadband; requiring the Office of Broadband to coordinate with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office on specified consumer protection claims; requiring the Office of Broadband to map broadband in the state and establish an interactive public map; defining “unserved area”; requiring certain executive agencies to cooperate and provide information to the Office of Broadband regarding AREA maps; allowing Office of Broadband to establish a voluntary data collection program; providing that information collected in program not subject to the Freedom of Information Act; providing procedures and requirements for a data collection program; protecting proprietary business information provided to the Office of Broadband and exempting such information from Freedom of Information Act requirements; providing rulemaking authority to the Office of Broadband; establishing requirements for counites, municipalities, and political subdivisions regarding installation of conduit; authorizing a broadband operator to construct or operate a system over public rights-of-way and through easements which are within the area to be served and which have been dedicated for compatible uses; establishing requirements for broadband operators related to installation and construction; requiring broadband operators to indemnify the state for any claims for injury and damage to persons or property; establishing requirements for broadband operator related to the use of public highways and other public places; providing installations in railroad rights of way and trackways do not have any greater or lesser requirement to comply with stated railroad safety requirements; establishing requirements for broadband operator related easements; defining terms; requiring that an ILEC who accepts payment for make-ready work, and fails to perform that work within 45 days, to immediately return and refund the moneys paid for that work which was not completed, and providing remedies and exceptions in such instances; requiring the Public Service Commission to promulgate rules to address abandoned cable, conductor, and related facilities attached to utility poles and providing requirements for said rules; requiring the Public Service Commission to promulgate rules to govern the timely transfer of facilities from an old pole to a new pole and the removal of utility poles that have had electric facilities moved to new poles but continue to have other facilities attached in the telecommunications space on the old existing poles and providing requirements for said rules; providing for preemption of West Virginia Code, the Code of State Rules, and ordinances relating to installation of certain broadband equipment; providing private agreements, promulgated or effective after the effective date of this legislation, may not regulate or prevent the exterior installation of antennas and equipment necessary to or typically utilized for broadband deployment; providing for scheme of construction of such language in favor of encouraging and assisting broadband installation and deployment; providing for preemption of West Virginia Code, the Code of State Rules, and ordinances relating to pole attachment of certain broadband equipment; and providing for scheme of construction of language of private agreements relating to pole attachment.

 

 

Adopted

Rejected