I_CPCIS_2024A 07/09/2024 09:39:03 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE CELL PHONE CONNECTIVITY INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE

Date

07/09/2024

Attendance
Bacon	X
Michael Blank	X
Eddie Castaneda	X
Bob Fifer	X
Hinrichsen	X
Kevin Klein	X
Guillermo Lambarri	X
Pelton R.	X
Roberts	*
Soper	X
Eli Veenendaal	X
Lukens	X

Time

09:39:03 AM to 02:51:35 PM

Place

Old State Library

This Meeting was called to order by

Lukens

This Report was prepared by

Samantha Falco

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hCall to Order and Introductions	Committee Discussion Only
hCommittee Overview	Committee Discussion Only
hTelecom Industry Panel	Committee Discussion Only
hState Government Panel	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from NCSL	Committee Discussion Only
hNext Steps: Upcoming Meetings and Field Trips	Committee Discussion Only

Call to Order and Introductions - Committee Discussion Only


	09:40:03 AM	Representative Lukens, chair of the committee, gave opening remarks to the committee. Representative Soper gave opening comments to the committee. Representative Bacon gave opening comments to the committee.

Committee Overview - Committee Discussion Only


	09:51:21 AM	Juliann Jenson, Legislative Council Staff, gave an overview of the committee charge. The charge memo for the committee can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committee_charge_memo_1.pdf Sarah Lozano, Office of Legislative Legal Services, gave an overview of the bill draft process.

Telecom Industry Panel - Committee Discussion Only


	10:00:04 AM	The committee heard from a panel of industry experts that are also serving as non-legislative members of the committee. Michael Blank, Director of State Legislative Affairs, Cellular Telephones Industries Association (CTIA), gave a presentation to the committee. The presentation provided an overview of cellular connectivity, fee structure, and wireless companies. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/ctia_presentation_-_co_interim_committee_7-9-24_draft.pdf
	10:13:00 AM	Eli Veenendaal, Associate General Counsel, Verizon gave a presentation regarding Verizon's investment in Colorado connectivity, the focus on rural coverage, partnering with the state, challenges to deployment, permitting, and network security.
	10:20:44 AM	Edward Castaneda, Director, Network Engineering and Operations, T-Mobile, gave a presentation to the committee. The presentation included an overview of wireless networks and the multiple bands of wavelength, Colorado coverage, future network plans, and obstacles. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/colorado_v2.pdf
	10:32:25 AM	Guillermo Lambarri, Director of External and Legislative Affairs, AT&T, gave a presentation to the committee. The presentation included an overview of AT&T's investment in Colorado, strengthening and enhancing network connection, and challenges. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/at_t.pdf
	10:46:39 AM	Panelists responded to questions from the committee on the following topics: goals for the committee, what other states are doing, the the interoperability of WiFi and cellular networks, industry opinion on the necessity of cell phones, state versus federal regulations, granularity of coverage maps, internet of cellular devices versus WiFi, building towers, and local government interaction.
	11:50:13 AM	The committee recessed for lunch.

State Government Panel - Committee Discussion Only


	01:08:06 PM	The committee resumed after lunch. Bob Fifer, Deputy Director of Operations, Colorado Department of Transportation gave the following presentation to the committee: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/2024-07-01_cell_connectivity_interim_committee_-_cdot_overview.pptx_.pdf The presentation provided information on land leases for cellular towers, tower pricing, permit fees, natural disaster implications, COtrip, COtransit, and commercial vehicle impacts.
	01:28:57 PM	Daryl Bronson, Telecoms Programs Section Chief, Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), gave the following presentation to the committee: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/dept._of_regulatory_agencies_presentation.pdf The presentation provided an overview of cellular/wireless phone service regulations and the Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, Mr. Bronson provided information on state and local 911 fees as it compares to the rest of the country and using WiFi routers to make cellular calls.
	01:40:19 PM	Nathan Blake, Deputy Attorney General for Consumer Protection, Colorado Department of Law gave a presentation to the committee. The presentation included information on monitoring and reviewing practices from cellular carriers as well as consumer protections.
	01:44:19 PM	Kevin Klein, Director, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, gave the following presentation: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/cellular_connectivity_intrim_committee.pdf. The presentation included information on the statewide digital trunked radio system, coverage for individuals and responders, and public private partnerships.
	01:50:33 PM	Panelists responded to questions from the committee regarding rural coverage, expediting the permitting process, the shot clock provision, fiber availability for cell towers, leasing fiber, small cells and fiber, network security issues, liability and budgetary impacts, adjusting fees, and the high cost support mechanism and subsidies.

Presentation from NCSL - Committee Discussion Only


	02:16:39 PM	Heather Morton, Director of Financial Services, Technology, and Communication with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) gave the following presentation: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/ncsl_cellphone_connectivity_update_july-2024.pdf The presentation provided an overview of the work of NCSL, national coverage, how cell phones connect to coverage, what impacts signals, mobile broadband data, federal legislation, Vermont's drive test of mobile wireless coverage, and additional resources.
	02:36:51 PM	Ms. Morton responded to questions from the committee regarding Vermont's drive test,

Next Steps: Upcoming Meetings and Field Trips - Committee Discussion Only


	02:43:01 PM	The committee discussed future committee activity.

02:51:35 PM

The committee adjourned.