TE-00-2-Right-Of-Way Fees and Timely Approval for the Placement and Relocation of Fiber Optic Cables and Other Utility Facilities

WHEREAS rural communities in Colorado have a need to access the nation’s advanced telecommunications network, and future telecommunications infrastructure development investments are being made, including the placement of fiber optic cables across public lands, and

WHEREAS utility companies that provide telecommunications services, including broadband access to the internet, gas, electric and water, are critical components of Western Colorado’s present and future economic growth, development and prosperity, and

WHEREAS the facilities utility companies use to provide critical utility services are lawfully located in public rights-of-way maintained and controlled by units of federal, state and local government, special districts, political subdivisions and other public entities, and

WHEREAS a unit of federal, state or local government (including but not limited to Departments of Transportation), special district, political subdivision or other public entity in Colorado, in the reasonable exercise of its authority, may require that a utility company change or relocate its facilities that are lawfully located in public rights-of-way, and

WHEREAS utility companies require advance notice in order to change or relocate their facilities in public rights-of way in a timely manner to make way for road and highway construction and/or other public projects, and

WHEREAS telecommunications service providers are faced with a limited construction season to build new underground facilities for expanding broadband and other advanced services, and

WHEREAS unreasonable rental fee increases for access to public lands could jeopardize the future construction of regional fiber optic links in Western Colorado to the nation’s advanced telecommunications network;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Club 20 opposes excessive fees for access to public lands for future critical telecommunications infrastructure investment, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Club 20 supports fees for any permits issued to perform work in the public rights-of-way by units of federal, state or local government, special districts, political subdivisions and other public entities in Colorado that are reasonably related to the costs directly incurred to the granting or administration of permits, and shall be reasonably related in time to the occurrence of such costs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Club 20 supports efforts by federal, state or local government (including but not limited to Departments of Transportation), special district, political subdivision or other public entities in Colorado, to streamline the required approval of public rights-of-way access to ensure consumers can more quickly realize the benefits of expanded availability of broadband and advanced services.

Adopted 3/3/2000       

Amended 9/5/08

Amended 9/5/2014

Renewed 4/12/2019

(Formerly:  00-3 TE

Renewed 3/22/13  ( Incorporates PLNR 95-1 and PLNR 03-9 PL 1)

Amended 9/20/24

Resolution in PDF Format