HOUSE BILL No. 4444

 

 

March 30, 2017, Introduced by Reps. Whiteford, Crawford, Allor, Victory and Rendon and referred to the Committee on Communications and Technology.

 

     A bill to require certain coordination between construction

 

projects in rights-of-way and installation of broadband facilities;

 

and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local

 

governmental officers and entities.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Broadband service" means that term as defined in section

 

102 of the Michigan telecommunications act, 1991 PA 179, MCL

 

484.2102.

 

     (b) "Broadband conduit" means a conduit, pipe, innerduct, or

 

microduct for fiber optic or other cables that support broadband

 

and wireless facilities for broadband service.

 

     (c) "Commission" means the Michigan public service commission

 

created in section 1 of 1939 PA 3, MCL 460.1.

 


     (d) "Local unit of government" means a city, county, county

 

road commission, or village.

 

     Sec. 2. (1) The commission shall, in collaboration with the

 

state transportation department and private entities, encourage and

 

coordinate efforts for the planning, relocation, installation, or

 

improvement of broadband conduit within any right-of-way under the

 

jurisdiction of the state transportation department in conjunction

 

with any current or planned construction in that right-of-way.

 

     (2) The commission shall, in collaboration with any other

 

state departments and agencies the commission considers necessary,

 

develop a strategy to facilitate the timely and efficient

 

deployment of broadband conduit or other broadband facilities on

 

state-owned lands and buildings.

 

     (3) The commission shall encourage and assist local units of

 

government to adopt and implement policies similar to those under

 

subsections (1) and (2) for construction or other improvements to

 

any of the following:

 

     (a) Highways, roads, or any other right-of-way under the local

 

unit of government's jurisdiction.

 

     (b) Lands or buildings owned by the local unit of government.

 

     Sec. 3. The commission shall report on activities taken under

 

this act, including, but not limited to, the number of current and

 

planned projects using the approach, any gains in broadband speed

 

or access associated with the project, and any costs or cost

 

savings to this state, a private entity, or an end user of

 

broadband services.

 

     Sec. 4. A local unit of government shall post on its website a


list of any current or planned construction projects in any right-

 

of-way under that local unit of government's jurisdiction.