Effective 28 Aug 2014

67.1842. Prohibited acts by political subdivisions — no right-of-way permit required for projects commenced prior to August 28, 2001 — no fee required, when. — 1. In managing the public right-of-way and in imposing fees pursuant to sections 67.1830 to 67.1846, no political subdivision shall:

(1) Unlawfully discriminate among public utility right-of-way users;

(2) Grant a preference to any public utility right-of-way user;

(3) Create or erect any unreasonable requirement for entry to the public right-of-way by public utility right-of-way users;

(4) Require a telecommunications company to obtain a franchise or require a public utility right-of-way user to pay for the use of the public right-of-way, except as provided in sections 67.1830 to 67.1846;

(5) Enter into a contract or any other agreement for providing for an exclusive use, occupancy or access to any public right-of-way; or

(6) Require any public utility that has legally been granted access to the political subdivision's right-of-way to enter into an agreement or obtain a permit for general access to or the right to remain in the right-of-way of the political subdivision.

2. A public utility right-of-way user shall not be required to apply for or obtain right-of-way permits for projects commenced prior to August 28, 2001, requiring excavation within the public right-of-way, for which the user has obtained the required consent of the political subdivision, or that are otherwise lawfully occupying or performing work within the public right-of-way. The public utility right-of-way user may be required to obtain right-of-way permits prior to any excavation work performed within the public right-of-way after August 28, 2001.

3. A political subdivision shall not collect a fee imposed pursuant to section 67.1840 through the provision of in-kind services by a public utility right-of-way user, nor require the provision of in-kind services as a condition of consent to use the political subdivision's public right-of-way; however, nothing in this subsection shall preclude requiring services of a cable television operator, open video system provider or other video programming provider as permitted by federal law.

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(L. 2001 S.B. 369, A.L. 2013 H.B. 331, A.L. 2014 S.B. 649)