Broadband Provider's Use Of Public Rights-of-way

Under current law, the department of transportation (CDOT) may enter into public-private initiative agreements with a telecommunications provider for use of the public rights-of-way. The bill creates an exception for a broadband provider's use of the public rights-of-way to the requirements for public-private initiative agreements that CDOT enters into with a telecommunications provider, and defines the term "broadband provider". The bill provides that any exclusive arrangement, lease, or other agreement CDOT enters into with a broadband provider for use of the public rights-of-way must only include reasonable fees directly related to processing the permitting application The bill directs the department of transportation (CDOT) to develop an electronic application, permitting, contract, and fee structure to facilitate access to public rights-of-way for the deployment of broadband and requires acceptances and denials by CDOT to be provided in writing and made available to the public.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)