Colo. House Panel Clears Small-Cells Bill
A Colorado small-cells wireless bill advanced through a House panel. The Business Affairs and Labor Committee voted 10-0 to clear HB-1193. It would allow industry to locate facilities in any zone, require local governments to process small-cell applications within 90…
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days and set a maximum access fee of $200 per pole or structure. At a live-streamed hearing Tuesday, witnesses from CTIA, Verizon and others in the wireless industry supported the bill, and a representative for the Colorado Municipal League, Colorado Counties Inc. and the Colorado Communication Utility Alliance said the groups were neutral. The three local groups negotiated terms of the bill with the wireless industry (see 1702280039). But a witness for another local group, the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, said the legislation would reduce revenue that local governments need to recover costs. Other states are considering similar bills, but sponsor and Chairwoman Tracy Kraft-Tharp (D) said her bill isn’t cookie-cutter: “I personally have been involved in hours of negotiation between different parties, and I can tell you that the different components involved in this bill are unique to Colorado’s needs.” Also Tuesday, the Minnesota House Commerce Committee advanced a small-cells bill (HF-739) to the Government Operations Committee.