FB7499D00535891B872583DE00735645 Hearing Summary

Senator Ginal recessed the meeting.

Senator Ginal reconvened the meeting.

Senator Donovan, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-107. The bill allows an electric utility company or other electricity supplier to install or maintain above-ground broadband for internal and external use and for lease to a broadband internet service provider. In addition, if a broadband internet service provider has written authorization from an electric utility, the provider may enter into a contract with a private landowner to access an electric utility's easement on a landowner's private land if the provider is seeking access to construct or maintain above-ground broadband infrastructure, and the provider's access does not violate the easement's exclusivity term. An electric utility may not withhold written authorization from a broadband service provider and, if denying authorization, must notify the provider in writing of the reasons for the denial. An electric utility may be reimbursed for the actual and reasonable costs of sharing a landowner's easement with a broadband service provider. Finally, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) may enforce violations of this section by both electric utility companies and broadband internet service providers.

Senator Donovan responded to questions.

Eric Bergman, Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill and distributed two handouts (Attachment F and G).

Jeffrey Hurd, Southeast Colorado Power and Delta-Montrose Electric, responded to questions and testified in support of the bill with amendments.

Committee questions and comments followed.

The witness panel responded to questions.

Geoff Hier, Colorado Rural Electric Association, testified against the bill.

Ted Leighty, Colorado Association of Homebuilders, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions.

Mark Barinowski, Comcast, testified in support of the bill.