§ 8-654. Broadband communication infrastructure provided in rural and underserved areas of Stat...
West's Annotated Code of MarylandTransportationEffective: July 1, 2021
Effective: July 1, 2021
MD Code, Transportation, § 8-654
§ 8-654. Broadband communication infrastructure provided in rural and underserved areas of State
(a)(1) In this section, “trenching” means a construction project in which a highway right-of-way surface is opened or removed for the purpose of laying or installing conduit, fiber, or similar infrastructure in excess of 1 mile in length.
(b) The following units of the State shall allow the use of any right-of-way or easement for the installation of broadband communication infrastructure provided by nonprofit telecommunications services providers in rural and underserved areas of the State without imposition of any charge for the use of the right-of-way or the easement:
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a unit of local government and the Department of Transportation, including the State Highway Administration, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the Maryland Transit Administration, shall allow joint trenching by broadband providers on a nonexclusive and nondiscriminatory basis.
(d) This section may not be construed to limit or otherwise affect any right granted to the State or a unit of the State under § 253 of the federal Telecommunications Act of 19961 with regard to for profit telecommunications services providers.
(e) On or before January 1, 2022, the Department, after consulting with stakeholders including broadband providers, the Maryland Association of Counties, and the Maryland Municipal League, shall adopt regulations for the implementation of this section, including:
Credits
Added by Acts 2006, c. 269, § 1, eff. July 1, 2006. Amended by Acts 2018, c. 176, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2018; Acts 2021, c. 632, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 633, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021.
Footnotes
Pub.L. 104-104, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 56, codified at 47 U.S.C.A. § 251 et seq.
MD Code, Transportation, § 8-654, MD TRANS § 8-654
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document |