Florida Senate - 2021                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 1944
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì757712(Î757712                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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                Floor: 1/AD/3R         .                                
             04/26/2021 11:45 AM       .                                
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       Senator Albritton moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 81 - 299
    4  and insert:
    5         (5)“Communications services provider” means an entity
    6  providing communications services as defined s. 202.11(1).
    7         (6)“Pole” means a pole used for electric distribution
    8  service, streetlights, communications services, local exchange
    9  services, or cable television services which is owned in whole
   10  or in part by a pole owner. The term does not include a pole
   11  used solely to support wireless communications service
   12  facilities or a pole with no electrical facilities attached.
   13         (7)“Pole attachment” means any attachment by a public
   14  utility, local exchange carrier communications services
   15  provider, broadband provider, or cable television operator to a
   16  pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way owned or controlled by a
   17  pole owner.
   18         (8)“Pole owner” means a local exchange carrier, a public
   19  utility, a communications services provider, or a cable
   20  television operator that owns a pole.
   21         (9)“Redundant pole” means a pole owned or controlled by a
   22  pole owner which is:
   23         (a)Near or adjacent to a new pole that is intended to
   24  replace the old pole from which some or all of the pole
   25  attachments have not been removed and transferred to the new
   26  pole;
   27         (b)Left standing after the pole owner has relocated its
   28  facilities to underground but on which pole attachments of other
   29  attaching entities remain; or
   30         (c)Left standing after a pole owner’s attachments have
   31  been removed from that route or location to accommodate a new
   32  route or design for the delivery of service.
   33         Section 3. Subsections (8) and (9) are added to section
   34  366.04, Florida Statutes, to read:
   35         366.04 Jurisdiction of commission.—
   36         (8)(a)The commission shall regulate and enforce rates,
   37  charges, terms, and conditions of pole attachments, including
   38  the types of attachments regulated under 47 U.S.C. s. 224(a)(4),
   39  attachments to streetlight fixtures, attachments to poles owned
   40  by a public utility, or attachments to poles owned by a
   41  communications services provider, to ensure that such rates,
   42  charges, terms, and conditions are just and reasonable. The
   43  commission’s authority under this subsection includes, but is
   44  not limited to, the state regulatory authority referenced in 47
   45  U.S.C. s. 224(c).
   46         (b)In the development of rules pursuant to paragraph (g),
   47  the commission shall consider the interests of the subscribers
   48  and users of the services offered through such pole attachments,
   49  as well as the interests of the consumers of any pole owner
   50  providing such attachments.
   51         (c)It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
   52  parties to enter into voluntary pole attachment agreements, and
   53  this subsection may not be construed to prevent parties from
   54  voluntarily entering into pole attachment agreements without
   55  commission approval.
   56         (d)A party’s right to nondiscriminatory access to a pole
   57  under this subsection is identical to the rights afforded under
   58  47 U.S.C. s. 224(f)(1). A pole owner may deny access to its
   59  poles on a nondiscriminatory basis when there is insufficient
   60  capacity, for reasons of safety and reliability, and when
   61  required by generally applicable engineering purposes. A pole
   62  owner’s evaluation of capacity, safety, reliability, and
   63  engineering requirements must consider relevant construction and
   64  reliability standards approved by the commission.
   65         (e)The commission shall hear and resolve complaints
   66  concerning rates, charges, terms, conditions, voluntary
   67  agreements, or any denial of access relative to pole
   68  attachments. Federal Communications Commission precedent is not
   69  binding upon the commission in the exercise of its authority
   70  under this subsection. When taking action upon such complaints,
   71  the commission shall establish just and reasonable cost-based
   72  rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments and shall
   73  apply the decisions and orders of the Federal Communications
   74  Commission and any appellate court decisions reviewing an order
   75  of the Federal Communications Commission regarding pole
   76  attachment rates, terms, or conditions in determining just and
   77  reasonable pole attachment rates, terms, and conditions unless a
   78  pole owner or attaching entity establishes by competent
   79  substantial evidence pursuant to proceedings conducted pursuant
   80  to ss. 120.569 and 120.57 that an alternative cost-based pole
   81  attachment rate is just and reasonable and in the public
   82  interest.
   83         (f)In the administration and implementation of this
   84  subsection, the commission shall authorize any petitioning pole
   85  owner or attaching entity to participate as an intervenor with
   86  full party rights under chapter 120 in the first four formal
   87  administrative proceedings conducted to determine pole
   88  attachment rates under this section. These initial four
   89  proceedings are intended to provide commission precedent on the
   90  establishment of pole attachment rates by the commission and
   91  help guide negotiations toward voluntary pole attachment
   92  agreements. After the fourth such formal administrative
   93  proceeding is concluded by final order, parties to subsequent
   94  pole attachment rate proceedings are limited to the specific
   95  pole owner and pole attaching entities involved in and directly
   96  affected by the specific pole attachment rate.
   97         (g)The commission shall propose procedural rules to
   98  administer and implement this subsection. The rules must be
   99  proposed for adoption no later than January 1, 2022, and, upon
  100  adoption of such rules, shall provide its certification to the
  101  Federal Communications Commission pursuant to 47 U.S.C. s.
  102  224(c)(2).
  103         (9)(a)The commission shall regulate the safety, vegetation
  104  management, repair, replacement, maintenance, relocation,
  105  emergency response, and storm restoration requirements for poles
  106  of communication services providers. This subsection does not
  107  apply to a communications services provider that owns no poles.
  108         (b)The commission shall adopt rules to administer and
  109  implement this subsection. The rules must be proposed for
  110  adoption no later than April 1, 2022, and must address at least
  111  the following:
  112         1.Mandatory pole inspections, including repair or
  113  replacement; vegetation management requirements for poles owned
  114  by providers of communications services; and
  115         2.Monetary penalties to be imposed upon any communications
  116  services provider that fails to comply with any such rule of the
  117  commission. Monetary penalties imposed by the commission must be
  118  consistent with s. 366.095.
  119         (c)The commission may access the books and records of
  120  communications services providers to the limited extent
  121  necessary to perform its functions and to exercise its authority
  122  under subsection (8), this subsection, and s. 366.97(4). Upon
  123  request by a communications services provider, any records that
  124  are received by the commission under this paragraph which are
  125  proprietary confidential business information under s. 364.183
  126  or s. 366.093 shall retain their status as confidential or
  127  exempt from disclosure under s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. 1
  128  of the State Constitution.
  129         Section 4. Section 366.97, Florida Statutes, is created to
  130  read:
  131         366.97Redundant poles; transfer of ownership.—
  132         (1)Pole owners shall provide at least 180 calendar days’
  133  electronic or written advance notice to affected attaching
  134  entities of major hardening projects the purpose of which is to
  135  replace poles to ensure the poles meet extreme wind loading
  136  requirements. The advance hardening project notice must include:
  137         (a)The scope of the major hardening project, to the extent
  138  determined, the locations of the affected poles, the expected
  139  start date, and the expected completion date of the major
  140  hardening project; and
  141         (b)The date, time, and location of a field meeting for the
  142  pole owner and attaching entities to review and discuss the
  143  planned major hardening project details, including the types of
  144  replacement poles to be used. The field meeting must occur no
  145  sooner than 15 calendar days after the date of the notice and no
  146  later than 60 calendar days after the notice and, at a minimum,
  147  must include sufficient information to enable the attaching
  148  entity to locate the affected poles and identify the owner of
  149  any facilities attached to the poles.
  150         (2)(a)An attaching entity must remove its pole attachments
  151  from a redundant pole within 180 calendar days after receipt of
  152  an electronic or a written notice from the pole owner requesting
  153  such removal. A pole owner may use a joint use notification
  154  software program to accomplish such written or electronic
  155  removal notice.
  156         (b)If an attaching entity fails to remove a pole
  157  attachment pursuant to paragraph (a), except to the extent
  158  excused by an event of force majeure or other good cause as
  159  agreed to by the parties or as determined by the commission or
  160  its designee within 30 calendar days after the 180 calendar-day
  161  period under subsection (a), the pole owner or its agent may
  162  transfer or relocate the pole attachment to the new pole at the
  163  noncompliant attaching entity’s expense. This subsection does
  164  not apply to an electric utility’s pole attachments. An
  165  attaching entity shall submit payment to the pole owner within
  166  60 days after receipt of the pole owner’s invoice for transfer
  167  or relocation of the pole attachments. A pole owner may seek to
  168  enforce its right to payment under this paragraph in circuit
  169  court and, if it prevails, is entitled to prejudgment interest
  170  at the prevailing statutory rate and reasonable attorney fees
  171  and court costs. Upon receipt by the pole owner of written
  172  notice, the attaching entity that fails to comply with this
  173  subsection shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the pole
  174  owner and its directors, officers, agents, and employees from
  175  and against all liability, except to the extent of any finding
  176  of negligence or willful misconduct, including attorney fees and
  177  litigation costs, arising in connection with the transfer of the
  178  pole attachment from a redundant pole to a new pole by the pole
  179  owner.
  180         (c)If a pole attachment is abandoned by an attaching
  181  entity that fails to remove or transfer its attachments in
  182  accordance with this section, the pole owner or its agent may
  183  remove the pole attachment at the noncompliant attaching
  184  entity’s expense and may sell or dispose of the pole attachment,
  185  except to the extent the attaching entity’s noncompliance is
  186  excused by an event of force majeure or other good cause as
  187  determined by the commission. An attaching entity shall submit
  188  payment to the pole owner within 60 days after receipt of the
  189  pole owner’s invoice. A pole owner may seek to enforce its right
  190  to payment under this paragraph in circuit court and, if it
  191  prevails, is entitled to prejudgment interest at the prevailing
  192  statutory rate and reasonable attorney fees and court costs.
  193  Upon receipt by the pole owner of written notice, the
  194  noncompliant attaching entity shall indemnify, defend, and hold
  195  harmless the pole owner and its directors, officers, agents, and
  196  employees from and against all liability, except to the extent
  197  of any finding of negligence or willful misconduct, including
  198  attorney fees and litigation costs, arising in connection with
  199  the removal, transfer, sale, or disposal of the pole attachments
  200  from a redundant pole by the pole owner.
  201         (3)Upon petition by a pole owner or an attaching entity,
  202  the commission may issue orders enforcing this section which do
  203  not expressly relate to circuit court jurisdiction.
  204         (4)This section may not be construed to do any of the
  205  following:
  206         (a)Prevent a party at any time from entering into a
  207  voluntary agreement authorizing a pole owner to remove an
  208  attaching entity’s pole attachment. It is the intent of the
  209  Legislature to encourage parties to enter into such voluntary
  210  agreements without commission approval.
  211         (b)Impair the contract rights of a party to a valid pole
  212  attachment agreement in existence before the effective date of
  213  this act.
  214  
  215  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  216  And the title is amended as follows:
  217         Delete lines 17 - 62
  218  and insert:
  219         to establish cost-based rates, charges, terms, and
  220         conditions for pole attachments and apply certain
  221         decisions and orders of the Federal Communications
  222         Commission; requiring the commission to authorize
  223         certain parties to participate as an intervenor in a
  224         specified number of administrative proceedings;
  225         requiring the commission to adopt rules by a specified
  226         date and provide certification to the Federal
  227         Communications Commission upon such adoption;
  228         requiring the commission to regulate the safety,
  229         vegetation management, repair, replacement,
  230         maintenance, relocation, emergency response, and storm
  231         restoration requirements for poles of communications
  232         services providers; providing an exception; requiring
  233         the commission to adopt rules, including monetary
  234         penalties, by a specified date; authorizing the
  235         commission to access the books and records of
  236         communications services providers for specified
  237         purposes; providing that such information that
  238         contains proprietary confidential business information
  239         retains its confidential or exempt status when held by
  240         the commission; creating s. 366.97, F.S.; requiring
  241         pole owners to give advance notice to affected
  242         attaching entities of hardening projects; requiring
  243         attaching entities to remove pole attachments from
  244         redundant poles within a specified timeframe after
  245         receipt of electronic or written notice from the pole
  246         owner; authorizing a pole owner or its agent to
  247         transfer or relocate pole attachments of an attaching
  248         entity at the entity’s expense under certain
  249         circumstances; providing an exception; requiring
  250         attaching entities to submit payment within a
  251         specified timeframe; authorizing pole owners to seek
  252         enforcement of such payment; requiring that the pole
  253         owner and its directors, officers, agents, and
  254         employees be held harmless under certain circumstances
  255         for such actions; authorizing a pole owner to remove
  256         and sell or dispose of certain abandoned pole
  257         attachments; authorizing the commission to issue
  258         orders for the removal or transfer of pole attachments
  259         by noncompliant attaching entities upon petition by a
  260         pole owner; providing construction; providing a
  261         directive to the Division of Law