On May 28th, 2024, T-Mobile announced as part of its acquisition of UScellular operations, it would “enter into a new long-term Master License Agreement on a minimum of 2,015 incremental towers owned by UScellular and extend...more
Background on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act - Congress enacted the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in 1991 to address the growing number of uninvited marketing calls, including calls made by local...more
First Application Deadline is Nov. 15; 80% Required Pass-Through to Local Governments -
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a notice of funding opportunities (NOFO) for a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity...more
Local Governments Eligible To Compete for These Funds -
As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congress created the $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP provides eligible households...more
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) recently released Notices of Funding Opportunity for several programs adopted as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act...more
In March/April Cover Story of ABA's Probate & Property Magazine, Authors Note Landlords Should Be Prepared to Deal with Tower Lease and License Issues -
Landlords should be on the lookout for an increasing number of...more
Local Government Voices Have Been Heard -
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Report and Order to establish rules for the $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP provides eligible...more
Final Rule, Considered Victory for Local Governments, Takes Effect in April 2022 -
The U.S. Department of Treasury has released the Final Rule governing implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus...more
Highlights of the Bill President Biden Signed Into Law on Nov. 15 -
President Biden has signed into law a historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. The bill contains significant federal investments for roads, bridges,...more
11/18/2021
/ Airports ,
Biden Administration ,
Bridges ,
Broadband ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Infrastructure ,
Power Grid ,
Public Transit ,
Railways ,
Roads ,
Water
Localities Should Take Advantage of Grant Programs Before Application Deadlines Close -
California has launched a new $6 billion Broadband Program to fund broadband internet access service (BIAS) infrastructure in response...more
Six Main Categories for Recipients, Writes Attorneys Ana Schwab, Andre Monette and Gerard Lavery Lederer in PublicCEO -
The U.S. Treasury rolled out its Interim Final Rule on Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery...more
Franchise Requirements Should Not be Treated as Franchise Fees and Cable Operators Can be Charged Fees on Non-Cable Services, Cities Argue -
Three coalitions of cities filed briefs with the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of...more
Guidance Includes Four Key Principles to Know -
Today, the U.S. Treasury Department released compliance requirements and reporting deadlines for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provided by the...more
U.S. Treasury Provides Direction on Distribution to Non-Entitlement Units of Local Government -
Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury released additional guidance on the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund,...more
Six Ways the Funds Can be Used -
Today, the U.S. Treasury released the Interim Final Rule on the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The funds were authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which...more
Oversight of Satellite Dishes and Certain Antennas Curtailed -
The FCC’s over-the-air reception devices (known as OTARD) rules (47 C.F.R. §1.4000) limit local governments’, homeowner associations’ and condominium boards’...more
Public Agencies Using Robocalls Have New Limitations/Obligations -
The FCC issued two new orders placing additional limits on robocalls and outlining phone companies’ obligations to help in that effort. The orders,...more
Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Public Agencies -
The FCC approved an Order on Reconsideration on Monday that clarifies that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s prohibition against robocalls applies to...more
Don’t Surrender Your Property Rights -
Cell tower operators will soon have the regulatory right to deploy generators and other communications equipment up to 30 feet outside of their current site under rule changes adopted...more
Ninth Circuit Takes on FCC Small Cell Orders -
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals handed local governments some wins in a decision last week arising from the court’s consolidation of five appeals from three FCC 5G...more
8/18/2020
/ 5G Network ,
Appeals ,
Arbitrary and Capricious ,
Cell Towers ,
FCC ,
Infrastructure ,
Local Aesthetic Regulations ,
Municipalities ,
State and Local Government ,
Telecommunications ,
Telecommunications Act ,
Wireless Industry
How Communities Can Respond -
The FCC adopted a Declaratory Ruling and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("Order" and "NPRM," respectively) related to Section 6409 modification requests (eligible facilities requests) on June...more
When the FCC’s Cable Franchise Order became effective on Sept. 26, it upended 35 years of common understanding on what a local government could obtain in cable franchise negotiations, which could cost local governments...more
Kari’s Law Sets New Requirements for Multi-Line Telephone Systems -
“Kari’s Law” imposes 911 direct dialing requirements on multi-line telephone systems, and those requirements are going into effect in February. Most...more
Recently enacted Texas legislation significantly reduces right-of-way fees paid to Texas cities by companies that provide telecommunications and cable services. This legislation could influence right-of-way compensation laws...more
10/21/2019
/ Cable Operators ,
Cell Towers ,
Compensation ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Fees ,
Municipalities ,
New Legislation ,
Private Property ,
Real Estate Market ,
Revenue ,
Right of Way ,
State and Local Government ,
Telecommunications ,
Wireless Industry ,
Wireless Technology
A new FCC Order updating cable franchising rules could cost local governments in every state hundreds of millions of dollars. The Order arms cable operators with the right to require existing franchise terms be modified to...more