BDAC Chair Says Local, State Governments Were Well Represented

that municipal viewpoints are vetted, heard, and even prevail,” Bowles emailed. “Industry representatives and municipal representatives have worked together to reach a compromise resolution that is acceptable to both constituencies. While I understand that it is easy to take a headcount of the members of the BDAC and criticize its diversity, many of those who have taken this position prejudged the BDAC’s process, making a number of assumptions that have not proven out with time. Many critics of the BDAC itself have repeated what they have been led to believe, but in my opinion, anyone who has actually watched the BDAC’s proceedings would be hard-pressed to argue that municipalities and their representatives are not given ample opportunity to express their views.” Bowles noted the group unanimously approved the municipal code and an official from Lincoln, Nebraska, David Young, was the vice chair of the committee that harmonized muni and state codes. “The municipal representatives on the Harmonization Working Group were able to make substantive changes to portions of the Model State Code,” Bowles said. “In the last BDAC meeting this month, one of the recommendations in the Model State Code -- that States consider enacting State Franchise agreements -- was narrowly defeated, in large measure because of municipal opposition.” CTIA supports the new focus on disaster preparation (see 1807270020), a spokesperson said. “Providers have been working hard to further bolster networks ahead of the 2018 hurricane season.”