The Florida Senate

125.421  Telecommunications services.--A telecommunications company that is a county or other entity of local government may obtain or hold a certificate required by chapter 364, and the obtaining or holding of said certificate serves a public purpose only if the county or other entity of local government:

(1)  Separately accounts for the revenues, expenses, property, and source of investment dollars associated with the provision of such service;

(2)  Is subject, without exemption, to all local requirements applicable to telecommunications companies; and

(3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pays, on its telecommunications facilities used to provide two-way telecommunication services to the public for hire and for which a certificate is required under chapter 364, ad valorem taxes, or fees in amounts equal thereto, to any taxing jurisdiction in which the county or other entity of local government operates. Any entity of local government may pay and impose such ad valorem taxes or fees. Any immunity of any county or other entity of local government from taxation of the property taxed by this section is hereby waived.

This section does not apply to the provision of telecommunications services for internal operational needs of a county or other entity of local government. This section does not apply to the provision of internal information services, including, but not limited to, tax records, engineering records, and property records, by a county or other entity of local government to the public for a fee.

History.--s. 1, ch. 97-197.