Nov, 2001 : CompTel Addresses "Rights-Of-Way" Policy Principles

📅 November 15, 2001 - As policymakers begin to refocus their attention on barriers to broadband deployment, the Competitive Telecommunications Association (comptel.org) has released a set of policy principles that address one of the industry's primary inhibitors, lack of reasonable and nondiscriminatory access by broadband providers to public "rights-of-way."

"We have all been surprised at the slow consumer uptake of broadbandapplications and services, but when we take a closer look, the problemappears on the supply side. We need to cut the Gordian knot, which preventsproviders from getting broadband services to consumers," said H. RussellFrisby, Jr., president of CompTel.
Instead of getting services to customers, Comptel says broadband providersare finding themselves trying to negotiate through a maze of local permitand licensing arrangements, a frustrating process that takes up valuabletime and money. The principles issued by CompTel today seek to "inject alittle common sense and market sense" into an issue that can, and should,according to CompTel, be quickly rectified.
The Public Rights-of-Way Principles support the requirements of TheTelecommunications Act of 1996 for the removal of all legal and regulatorybarriers to entry. Among the recommendations:
All service providers should have reasonable and non-discriminatoryaccess to public rights-of-way.There should be a uniform permitting process without inappropriateor unrelated administrative requirements, and permits should be processedwithin a reasonable and fixed period of time.Fees charged broadband providers for using the public rights-of-wayshould reflect the actual and direct costs of managing and using thosepublic rights-of-way.Access to emergency services (e.g., 911) is essential to publicsafety and must not be withheld from providers by municipalities seekingleverage on franchise fees.Industry-based criteria should guide the development of anyengineering standards regarding public rights-of-way.Providers have the right to challenge the lawfulness of particularrequirements.
CompTel is committed to working with policymakers across the country toimplement these common-sense goals," concluded Frisby. "It's time we addressaccess municipal rights-of-way practices to ensure there are no barriers tothe deployment of broadband networks and services."