05-13-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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*• 2(M>2 FCC Telecom lines Undergrounding Proceeding. The SRA is monitoring a proceeding in the FCC in which telecommunications providers arc seeking federal authority to prohibit local governments from requiring undergrounding of lines to new telecom entrants (competitive providers), unless the incumbent providers (e.g. Qwest) are treated the same. This all or none approach could have a significant impact on right-of-way management and would weaken current rights under Minnesota law. 2002 Qwest Secret Agreements with Telecom Competitors. The SRA is participating in a prtxeeding before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in which agreements between Qwest and some of its competitors are being investigated. Such agreements may have negatively affected local senicc competition in SRA cities and elsewhere. 2002 Cell Tower Siting l^pdates. The SRA has provided its members with comprehensive and up-to-date summaries of trends in the numerous cell tower .siting cases being decided around the country and in Minnesota. This guidance assists cities in avoiding lawsuits or improving their chances of success when sued. 2001 The Integration of the Comprehensive Right-of-Wav Management Ordinance with Gas and Electric Franchises. The SRA has prepared a document that can simplify the franchise- right-of-way ordinance by integrating the language of the comprehensive right-of-way management ordinance into the gas or electric franchise. 201'1 Uniform Metricom Access Agreement - Bankruptcy Updates. The SRA prepared a model right-of-way agreement used by numerous cities in entering into agreements with Metricom, a recently-bankrupted wireless, mobile internet provider. When the bankruptcy was filed in 2{X)1. ihe SRA was able to advi.se SRA cities of their rights relative to Metricom equipment and Metricom leases. 2(NHi Gas and Electric Deregulation. The SRA is participating in a legislative prevess, now stalled, establi.shing policies relating to the deregulation of gas and elecuic set % ices in Minnesota. This includes issues such as municipal aggregating and franchi.se fees in a deregulated environment. 2(HM) Gas and Electric Franchises. The SRA prepared a model franchi.se for gas and electric sers ice in the post-1997 ROW management environment 2(NMI ROW Use Agreements. The SRA has comprehensively reviewed a proposed ROW access agreement by a wireless internet access provider. This and other unique telecommunication provider i.ssues will be subject to review by the SRA as telecommunications and data u-ansfer technology continues to develop. 1999 Electric Facilities Undergrounding. The SRA has negotiated directly with NSP in a tariff prcKeeding esiabli.shing a prexess for financing facility-undergrounding costs, not with municipal funds, but through ratepayer surcharges. This is an ongoing proceeding and will affect municipal development costs. j.vis-:i?5oovi suieo-3