Bill Text: IL HB1506 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act. Provides that an authority may charge an application fee of up to $750 (rather than $650) for an application to collocate a single small wireless facility on an existing utility pole or wireless support structure and up to $400 (rather than $350) for each small wireless facility addressed in an application to collocate more than one small wireless facility on existing utility poles or wireless support structures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2025-01-07 - Session Sine Die [HB1506 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-HB1506-Introduced.html
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1 | AN ACT concerning local government.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 5. The Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act is | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | amended by changing Section 15 as follows:
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6 | (50 ILCS 840/15) (was 50 ILCS 835/15) | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2024)
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8 | Sec. 15. Regulation of small wireless facilities. | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | (a) This Section applies to activities of a wireless | |||||||||||||||||||
10 | provider within or outside rights-of-way. | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | (b) Except as provided in this Section, an authority may | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | not prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | wireless facilities. | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | (c) Small wireless facilities shall be classified as | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | permitted uses and subject to administrative review in | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | conformance with this Act, except as provided in paragraph (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | of subsection (d) of this Section regarding height exceptions | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | or variances, but not subject to zoning review or approval if | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | they are collocated (i) in rights-of-way in any zone, or (ii) | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | outside rights-of-way in property zoned exclusively for | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | commercial or industrial use. | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | (d) An authority may require an applicant to obtain one or | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | more permits to collocate a small wireless facility. An |
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1 | authority shall receive applications for, process, and issue | ||||||
2 | permits subject to the following requirements: | ||||||
3 | (1) An authority may not directly or indirectly | ||||||
4 | require an applicant to perform services unrelated to the | ||||||
5 | collocation for which approval is sought, such as in-kind | ||||||
6 | contributions to the authority, including reserving fiber, | ||||||
7 | conduit, or utility pole space for the authority on the | ||||||
8 | wireless provider's utility pole. An authority may reserve | ||||||
9 | space on authority utility poles for future public safety | ||||||
10 | uses or for the authority's electric utility uses, but a | ||||||
11 | reservation of space may not preclude the collocation of a | ||||||
12 | small wireless facility unless the authority reasonably | ||||||
13 | determines that the authority utility pole cannot | ||||||
14 | accommodate both uses. | ||||||
15 | (2) An applicant shall not be required to provide more | ||||||
16 | information to obtain a permit than the authority requires | ||||||
17 | of a communications service provider that is not a | ||||||
18 | wireless provider that requests to attach facilities to a | ||||||
19 | structure; however, a wireless provider may be required to | ||||||
20 | provide the following information when seeking a permit to | ||||||
21 | collocate small wireless facilities on a utility pole or | ||||||
22 | wireless support structure: | ||||||
23 | (A) site specific structural integrity and, for an | ||||||
24 | authority utility pole, make-ready analysis prepared | ||||||
25 | by a structural engineer, as that term is defined in | ||||||
26 | Section 4 of the Structural Engineering Practice Act |
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1 | of 1989; | ||||||
2 | (B) the location where each proposed small | ||||||
3 | wireless facility or utility pole would be installed | ||||||
4 | and photographs of the location and its immediate | ||||||
5 | surroundings depicting the utility poles or structures | ||||||
6 | on which each proposed small wireless facility would | ||||||
7 | be mounted or location where utility poles or | ||||||
8 | structures would be installed; | ||||||
9 | (C) specifications and drawings prepared by a | ||||||
10 | structural engineer, as that term is defined in | ||||||
11 | Section 4 of the Structural Engineering Practice Act | ||||||
12 | of 1989, for each proposed small wireless facility | ||||||
13 | covered by the application as it is proposed to be | ||||||
14 | installed; | ||||||
15 | (D) the equipment type and model numbers for the | ||||||
16 | antennas and all other wireless equipment associated | ||||||
17 | with the small wireless facility; | ||||||
18 | (E) a proposed schedule for the installation and | ||||||
19 | completion of each small wireless facility covered by | ||||||
20 | the application, if approved; | ||||||
21 | (F) certification that the collocation complies | ||||||
22 | with paragraph (6) to the best of the applicant's | ||||||
23 | knowledge; and | ||||||
24 | (G) the wireless provider's certification from a | ||||||
25 | radio engineer that it operates the small wireless | ||||||
26 | facility within all applicable FCC standards. |
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1 | (3) Subject to paragraph (6), an authority may not | ||||||
2 | require the placement of small wireless facilities on any | ||||||
3 | specific utility pole, or category of utility poles, or | ||||||
4 | require multiple antenna systems on a single utility pole; | ||||||
5 | however, with respect to an application for the | ||||||
6 | collocation of a small wireless facility associated with a | ||||||
7 | new utility pole, an authority may propose that the small | ||||||
8 | wireless facility be collocated on an existing utility | ||||||
9 | pole or existing wireless support structure within 200 | ||||||
10 | feet of the proposed collocation, which the applicant | ||||||
11 | shall accept if it has the right to use the alternate | ||||||
12 | structure on reasonable terms and conditions and the | ||||||
13 | alternate location and structure does not impose technical | ||||||
14 | limits or additional material costs as determined by the | ||||||
15 | applicant. The authority may require the applicant to | ||||||
16 | provide a written certification describing the property | ||||||
17 | rights, technical limits or material cost reasons the | ||||||
18 | alternate location does not satisfy the criteria in this | ||||||
19 | paragraph (3). | ||||||
20 | (4) Subject to paragraph (6), an authority may not | ||||||
21 | limit the placement of small wireless facilities mounted | ||||||
22 | on a utility pole or a wireless support structure by | ||||||
23 | minimum horizontal separation distances. | ||||||
24 | (5) An authority may limit the maximum height of a | ||||||
25 | small wireless facility to 10 feet above the utility pole | ||||||
26 | or wireless support structure on which the small wireless |
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1 | facility is collocated. Subject to any applicable waiver, | ||||||
2 | zoning, or other process that addresses wireless provider | ||||||
3 | requests for an exception or variance and does not | ||||||
4 | prohibit granting of such exceptions or variances, the | ||||||
5 | authority may limit the height of new or replacement | ||||||
6 | utility poles or wireless support structures on which | ||||||
7 | small wireless facilities are collocated to the higher of: | ||||||
8 | (i) 10 feet in height above the tallest existing utility | ||||||
9 | pole, other than a utility pole supporting only wireless | ||||||
10 | facilities, that is in place on the date the application | ||||||
11 | is submitted to the authority, that is located within 300 | ||||||
12 | feet of the new or replacement utility pole or wireless | ||||||
13 | support structure and that is in the same right-of-way | ||||||
14 | within the jurisdictional boundary of the authority, | ||||||
15 | provided the authority may designate which intersecting | ||||||
16 | right-of-way within 300 feet of the proposed
utility pole | ||||||
17 | or wireless support structures shall control the height | ||||||
18 | limitation for such facility; or (ii) 45 feet above ground | ||||||
19 | level. | ||||||
20 | (6) An authority may require that: | ||||||
21 | (A) the wireless provider's operation of the small | ||||||
22 | wireless facilities does not interfere with the | ||||||
23 | frequencies used by a public safety agency for public | ||||||
24 | safety communications; a wireless provider shall | ||||||
25 | install small wireless facilities of the type and | ||||||
26 | frequency that will not cause unacceptable |
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1 | interference with a public safety agency's | ||||||
2 | communications equipment; unacceptable interference | ||||||
3 | will be determined by and measured in accordance with | ||||||
4 | industry standards and the FCC's regulations | ||||||
5 | addressing unacceptable interference to public safety | ||||||
6 | spectrum or any other spectrum licensed by a public | ||||||
7 | safety agency; if a small wireless facility causes | ||||||
8 | such interference, and the wireless provider has been | ||||||
9 | given written notice of the interference by the public | ||||||
10 | safety agency, the wireless provider, at its own | ||||||
11 | expense, shall take all reasonable steps necessary to | ||||||
12 | correct and eliminate the interference, including, but | ||||||
13 | not limited to, powering down the small wireless | ||||||
14 | facility and later powering up the small wireless | ||||||
15 | facility for intermittent testing, if necessary; the | ||||||
16 | authority may terminate a permit for a small wireless | ||||||
17 | facility based on such interference if the wireless | ||||||
18 | provider is not making a good faith effort to remedy | ||||||
19 | the problem in a manner consistent with the abatement | ||||||
20 | and resolution procedures for interference with public | ||||||
21 | safety spectrum established by the FCC including 47 | ||||||
22 | CFR 22.970 through 47 CFR 22.973 and 47 CFR 90.672 | ||||||
23 | through 47 CFR 90.675; | ||||||
24 | (B) the wireless provider comply with requirements | ||||||
25 | that are imposed by a contract between an authority | ||||||
26 | and a private property owner that concern design or |
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1 | construction standards applicable to utility poles and | ||||||
2 | ground-mounted equipment located in the right-of-way; | ||||||
3 | (C) the wireless provider comply with applicable | ||||||
4 | spacing requirements in applicable codes and | ||||||
5 | ordinances concerning the location of ground-mounted | ||||||
6 | equipment located in the right-of-way if the | ||||||
7 | requirements include a waiver, zoning, or other | ||||||
8 | process that addresses wireless provider requests for | ||||||
9 | exception or variance and do not prohibit granting of | ||||||
10 | such exceptions or variances; | ||||||
11 | (D) the wireless provider comply with local code | ||||||
12 | provisions or regulations concerning undergrounding | ||||||
13 | requirements that prohibit the installation of new or | ||||||
14 | the modification of existing utility poles in a | ||||||
15 | right-of-way without prior approval if the | ||||||
16 | requirements include a waiver, zoning, or other | ||||||
17 | process that addresses requests to install such new | ||||||
18 | utility poles or modify such existing utility poles | ||||||
19 | and do not prohibit the replacement of utility poles; | ||||||
20 | (E) the wireless provider comply with generally | ||||||
21 | applicable standards that are consistent with this Act | ||||||
22 | and adopted by an authority for construction and | ||||||
23 | public safety in the rights-of-way, including, but not | ||||||
24 | limited to, reasonable and nondiscriminatory wiring | ||||||
25 | and cabling requirements, grounding requirements, | ||||||
26 | utility pole extension requirements, acoustic |
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1 | regulations, and signage limitations; and shall comply | ||||||
2 | with reasonable and nondiscriminatory requirements | ||||||
3 | that are consistent with this Act and adopted by an | ||||||
4 | authority regulating the location, size, surface area | ||||||
5 | and height of small wireless facilities, or the | ||||||
6 | abandonment and removal of small wireless facilities; | ||||||
7 | (F) the wireless provider not collocate small | ||||||
8 | wireless facilities on authority utility poles that | ||||||
9 | are part of an electric distribution or transmission | ||||||
10 | system within the communication worker safety zone of | ||||||
11 | the pole or the electric supply zone of the pole; | ||||||
12 | however, the antenna and support equipment of the | ||||||
13 | small wireless facility may be located in the | ||||||
14 | communications space on the authority utility pole and | ||||||
15 | on the top of the pole, if not otherwise unavailable, | ||||||
16 | if the wireless provider complies with applicable | ||||||
17 | codes for work involving the top of the pole; for | ||||||
18 | purposes of this subparagraph (F), the terms | ||||||
19 | "communications space", "communication worker safety | ||||||
20 | zone", and "electric supply zone" have the meanings | ||||||
21 | given to those terms in the National Electric Safety | ||||||
22 | Code as published by the Institute of Electrical and | ||||||
23 | Electronics Engineers; | ||||||
24 | (G) the wireless provider comply with the | ||||||
25 | applicable codes and local code provisions or | ||||||
26 | regulations that concern public safety;
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1 | (H) the wireless provider comply with written | ||||||
2 | design standards that are generally applicable for | ||||||
3 | decorative utility poles, or reasonable stealth, | ||||||
4 | concealment, and aesthetic requirements that are | ||||||
5 | identified by the authority in an ordinance, written | ||||||
6 | policy adopted by the governing board of the | ||||||
7 | authority, a comprehensive plan, or other written | ||||||
8 | design plan that applies to other occupiers of the | ||||||
9 | rights-of-way, including on a historic landmark or in | ||||||
10 | a historic district;
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11 | (I) subject to subsection (c) of this Section, and | ||||||
12 | except for facilities excluded from evaluation for | ||||||
13 | effects on historic properties
under 47 CFR | ||||||
14 | 1.1307(a)(4), reasonable, technically feasible and | ||||||
15 | non-discriminatory design or concealment measures in a | ||||||
16 | historic district or historic landmark; any such | ||||||
17 | design or concealment measures, including restrictions | ||||||
18 | on a specific category of poles, may not have the | ||||||
19 | effect of prohibiting any provider's technology; such | ||||||
20 | design and concealment measures shall not be | ||||||
21 | considered a part of the small wireless facility for | ||||||
22 | purposes of the size restrictions of a small wireless | ||||||
23 | facility; this paragraph may not be construed to limit | ||||||
24 | an authority's enforcement of historic preservation in | ||||||
25 | conformance with the requirements adopted pursuant to | ||||||
26 | the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources |
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1 | Preservation Act or the National Historic Preservation | ||||||
2 | Act of 1966, 54 U.S.C. Section 300101 et seq., and the | ||||||
3 | regulations adopted to implement those laws; and
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4 | (J) When a wireless provider replaces or adds a | ||||||
5 | new radio transceiver or antennas to an existing small | ||||||
6 | wireless facility, certification by the wireless | ||||||
7 | provider from a radio engineer that the continuing | ||||||
8 | operation of the small wireless facility complies with | ||||||
9 | all applicable FCC standards. | ||||||
10 | (7) Within 30 days after receiving an application, an | ||||||
11 | authority must determine whether the application is | ||||||
12 | complete and notify the applicant. If an application is | ||||||
13 | incomplete, an authority must specifically identify the | ||||||
14 | missing information. An application shall be deemed | ||||||
15 | complete if the authority fails to provide notification to | ||||||
16 | the applicant within 30 days after when all documents, | ||||||
17 | information, and fees specifically enumerated in the | ||||||
18 | authority's permit application form are submitted by the | ||||||
19 | applicant to the authority. Processing deadlines are | ||||||
20 | tolled from the time the authority sends the notice of | ||||||
21 | incompleteness to the time the applicant provides the | ||||||
22 | missing information. | ||||||
23 | (8) An authority shall process applications as | ||||||
24 | follows: | ||||||
25 | (A) an application to collocate a small wireless | ||||||
26 | facility on an existing utility pole or wireless |
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1 | support structure shall be processed on a | ||||||
2 | nondiscriminatory basis and deemed approved if the | ||||||
3 | authority fails to approve or deny the application | ||||||
4 | within 90 days; however, if an applicant intends to | ||||||
5 | proceed with the permitted activity on a deemed | ||||||
6 | approved basis, the applicant must notify the | ||||||
7 | authority in writing of its intention to invoke the | ||||||
8 | deemed approved remedy no sooner than 75 days after | ||||||
9 | the submission of a completed application; the permit | ||||||
10 | shall be deemed approved on the latter of the 90th day | ||||||
11 | after submission of the complete application or the | ||||||
12 | 10th day after the receipt of the deemed approved | ||||||
13 | notice by the authority; the receipt of the deemed | ||||||
14 | approved notice shall not preclude the authority's | ||||||
15 | denial of the permit request within the time limits as | ||||||
16 | provided under this Act; and | ||||||
17 | (B) an application to collocate a small wireless | ||||||
18 | facility that includes the installation of a new | ||||||
19 | utility pole shall be processed on a nondiscriminatory | ||||||
20 | basis and deemed approved if the authority fails to | ||||||
21 | approve or deny the application within 120 days; | ||||||
22 | however, if an applicant intends to proceed with the | ||||||
23 | permitted activity on a deemed approved basis, the | ||||||
24 | applicant must notify the authority in writing of its | ||||||
25 | intention to invoke the deemed approved remedy no | ||||||
26 | sooner than 105 days after the submission of a |
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1 | completed application; the permit shall be deemed | ||||||
2 | approved on the latter of the 120th day after | ||||||
3 | submission of the complete application or the 10th day | ||||||
4 | after the receipt of the deemed approved notice by the | ||||||
5 | authority; the receipt of the deemed approved notice | ||||||
6 | shall not preclude the authority's denial of the | ||||||
7 | permit request within the time limits as provided | ||||||
8 | under this Act. | ||||||
9 | (9) An authority shall approve an application unless | ||||||
10 | the application does not meet the requirements of this | ||||||
11 | Act. If an authority determines that applicable codes, | ||||||
12 | local code provisions or regulations that concern public | ||||||
13 | safety, or the requirements of paragraph (6) require that | ||||||
14 | the utility pole or wireless support structure be replaced | ||||||
15 | before the requested collocation, approval may be | ||||||
16 | conditioned on the replacement of the utility pole or | ||||||
17 | wireless support structure at the cost of the provider. | ||||||
18 | The authority must document the basis for a denial, | ||||||
19 | including the specific code provisions or application | ||||||
20 | conditions on which the denial was based, and send the | ||||||
21 | documentation to the applicant on or before the day the | ||||||
22 | authority denies an application. The applicant may cure | ||||||
23 | the deficiencies identified by the authority and resubmit | ||||||
24 | the revised application once within 30 days after notice | ||||||
25 | of denial is sent to the applicant without paying an | ||||||
26 | additional application fee. The authority shall approve or |
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1 | deny the revised application within 30 days after the | ||||||
2 | applicant resubmits the application or it is deemed | ||||||
3 | approved; however, the applicant must notify the authority | ||||||
4 | in writing of its intention to proceed with the permitted | ||||||
5 | activity on a deemed approved basis, which may be | ||||||
6 | submitted with the resubmitted application. Any subsequent | ||||||
7 | review shall be limited to the deficiencies cited in the | ||||||
8 | denial. However, this revised application cure does not | ||||||
9 | apply if the cure requires the review of a new location, | ||||||
10 | new or different structure to be collocated upon, new | ||||||
11 | antennas, or other wireless equipment associated with the | ||||||
12 | small wireless facility. | ||||||
13 | (10) The time period for applications may be further | ||||||
14 | tolled by: | ||||||
15 | (A) the express agreement in writing by both the | ||||||
16 | applicant and the authority; or | ||||||
17 | (B) a local, State, or federal disaster | ||||||
18 | declaration or similar emergency that causes the | ||||||
19 | delay. | ||||||
20 | (11) An applicant seeking to collocate small wireless | ||||||
21 | facilities within the jurisdiction of a single authority | ||||||
22 | shall be allowed, at the applicant's discretion, to file a | ||||||
23 | consolidated application and receive a single permit for | ||||||
24 | the collocation of up to 25 small wireless facilities if | ||||||
25 | the collocations each involve substantially the same type | ||||||
26 | of small wireless facility and substantially the same type |
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1 | of structure. If an application includes multiple small | ||||||
2 | wireless facilities, the authority may remove small | ||||||
3 | wireless facility collocations from the application and | ||||||
4 | treat separately small wireless facility collocations for | ||||||
5 | which incomplete information has been provided or that do | ||||||
6 | not qualify for consolidated treatment or that are denied. | ||||||
7 | The authority may issue separate permits for each | ||||||
8 | collocation that is approved in a consolidated | ||||||
9 | application. | ||||||
10 | (12) Collocation for which a permit is granted shall | ||||||
11 | be completed within 180 days after issuance of the permit, | ||||||
12 | unless the authority and the wireless provider agree to | ||||||
13 | extend this period or a delay is caused by make-ready work | ||||||
14 | for an authority utility pole or by the lack of commercial | ||||||
15 | power or backhaul availability at the site, provided the | ||||||
16 | wireless provider has made a timely request within 60 days | ||||||
17 | after the issuance of the permit for commercial power or | ||||||
18 | backhaul services, and the additional time to complete | ||||||
19 | installation does not exceed 360 days after issuance of | ||||||
20 | the permit. Otherwise, the permit shall be void unless the | ||||||
21 | authority grants an extension in writing to the applicant. | ||||||
22 | (13) The duration of a permit shall be for a period of | ||||||
23 | not less than 5 years, and the permit shall be renewed for | ||||||
24 | equivalent durations unless the authority makes a finding | ||||||
25 | that the small wireless facilities or the new or modified | ||||||
26 | utility pole do not comply with the applicable codes or |
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1 | local code provisions or regulations in paragraphs (6) and | ||||||
2 | (9). If this Act is repealed as provided in Section 90, | ||||||
3 | renewals of permits shall be subject to the applicable | ||||||
4 | authority code provisions or regulations in effect at the | ||||||
5 | time of renewal. | ||||||
6 | (14) An authority may not prohibit, either expressly | ||||||
7 | or de facto, the (i) filing, receiving, or processing | ||||||
8 | applications, or (ii) issuing of permits or other | ||||||
9 | approvals, if any, for the collocation of small wireless | ||||||
10 | facilities unless there has been a local, State, or | ||||||
11 | federal disaster declaration or similar emergency that | ||||||
12 | causes the delay. | ||||||
13 | (15) Applicants shall submit applications, supporting | ||||||
14 | information, and notices by personal delivery or as | ||||||
15 | otherwise required by the authority. An authority may | ||||||
16 | require that permits, supporting information, and notices | ||||||
17 | be submitted by personal delivery at the authority's | ||||||
18 | designated place of business, by regular mail postmarked | ||||||
19 | on the date due, or by any other commonly used means, | ||||||
20 | including electronic mail, as required by the authority. | ||||||
21 | (e) Application fees are subject to the following | ||||||
22 | requirements: | ||||||
23 | (1) An authority may charge an application fee of up | ||||||
24 | to $750 $650 for an application to collocate a single | ||||||
25 | small wireless facility on an existing utility pole or | ||||||
26 | wireless support structure and up to $400 $350 for each |
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1 | small wireless facility addressed in an application to | ||||||
2 | collocate more than one small wireless facility on | ||||||
3 | existing utility poles or wireless support structures. | ||||||
4 | (2) An authority may charge an application fee of | ||||||
5 | $1,000 for each small wireless facility addressed in an | ||||||
6 | application that includes the installation of a new | ||||||
7 | utility for such collocation. | ||||||
8 | (3) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of State | ||||||
9 | law or local ordinance, applications pursuant to this | ||||||
10 | Section must be accompanied by the required application | ||||||
11 | fee.
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12 | (4) Within 2 months after the effective date of this | ||||||
13 | Act, an authority shall make available application fees | ||||||
14 | consistent with this subsection, through ordinance, or in | ||||||
15 | a written schedule of permit fees adopted by the | ||||||
16 | authority.
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17 | (f) An authority shall not require an application, | ||||||
18 | approval, or permit, or require any fees or other charges, | ||||||
19 | from a communications service provider authorized to occupy | ||||||
20 | the rights-of-way, for: (i) routine maintenance; (ii) the | ||||||
21 | replacement of wireless facilities with wireless facilities | ||||||
22 | that are substantially similar, the same size, or smaller if | ||||||
23 | the wireless provider notifies the authority at least 10 days | ||||||
24 | prior to the planned replacement and includes equipment | ||||||
25 | specifications for the replacement of equipment consistent | ||||||
26 | with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of |
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1 | subsection (d) of this Section; or (iii) the installation, | ||||||
2 | placement, maintenance, operation, or replacement of micro | ||||||
3 | wireless facilities that are suspended on cables that are | ||||||
4 | strung between existing utility poles in compliance with | ||||||
5 | applicable safety codes. However, an authority may require a | ||||||
6 | permit to work within rights-of-way for activities that affect | ||||||
7 | traffic patterns or require lane closures. | ||||||
8 | (g) Nothing in this Act authorizes a person to collocate | ||||||
9 | small wireless facilities on: (1) property owned by a private | ||||||
10 | party or property owned or controlled by a unit of local | ||||||
11 | government that is not located within rights-of-way, subject | ||||||
12 | to subsection (j) of this Section, or a privately owned | ||||||
13 | utility pole or wireless support structure without the consent | ||||||
14 | of the property owner; (2) property owned, leased, or | ||||||
15 | controlled by a park district, forest preserve district, or | ||||||
16 | conservation district for public park, recreation, or | ||||||
17 | conservation purposes without the consent of the affected | ||||||
18 | district, excluding the placement of facilities on | ||||||
19 | rights-of-way located in an affected district that are under | ||||||
20 | the jurisdiction and control of a different unit of local | ||||||
21 | government as provided by the Illinois Highway Code; or (3) | ||||||
22 | property owned by a rail carrier registered under Section | ||||||
23 | 18c-7201 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, Metra Commuter Rail or | ||||||
24 | any other public commuter rail service, or an electric utility | ||||||
25 | as defined in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act, | ||||||
26 | without the consent of the rail carrier, public commuter rail |
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1 | service, or electric utility. The provisions of this Act do | ||||||
2 | not apply to an electric or gas public utility or such | ||||||
3 | utility's wireless facilities if the facilities are being | ||||||
4 | used, developed, and maintained consistent with the provisions | ||||||
5 | of subsection (i) of Section 16-108.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
6 | Act. | ||||||
7 | For the purposes of this subsection, "public utility" has | ||||||
8 | the meaning given to that term in Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
9 | Utilities Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to | ||||||
10 | relieve any person from any requirement (1) to obtain a | ||||||
11 | franchise or a State-issued authorization to offer cable | ||||||
12 | service or video service or (2) to obtain any required | ||||||
13 | permission to install, place, maintain, or operate | ||||||
14 | communications facilities, other than small wireless | ||||||
15 | facilities subject to this Act. | ||||||
16 | (h) Agreements between authorities and wireless providers | ||||||
17 | that relate to the collocation of small wireless facilities in | ||||||
18 | the right-of-way, including the collocation of small wireless | ||||||
19 | facilities on authority utility poles, that are in effect on | ||||||
20 | the effective date of this Act remain in effect for all small | ||||||
21 | wireless facilities collocated on the authority's utility | ||||||
22 | poles pursuant to applications submitted to the authority | ||||||
23 | before the effective date of this Act, subject to applicable | ||||||
24 | termination provisions. Such agreements entered into after the | ||||||
25 | effective date of the Act shall comply with the Act. | ||||||
26 | (i) An authority shall allow the collocation of small |
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1 | wireless facilities on authority utility poles subject to the | ||||||
2 | following: | ||||||
3 | (1) An authority may not enter into an exclusive | ||||||
4 | arrangement with any person for the right to attach small | ||||||
5 | wireless facilities to authority utility poles. | ||||||
6 | (2) The rates and fees for collocations on authority | ||||||
7 | utility poles shall be nondiscriminatory regardless of the | ||||||
8 | services provided by the collocating person. | ||||||
9 | (3) An authority may charge an annual recurring rate | ||||||
10 | to collocate a small wireless facility on an authority | ||||||
11 | utility pole located in a right-of-way that equals (i) | ||||||
12 | $200 per year or (ii) the actual, direct, and reasonable | ||||||
13 | costs related to the wireless provider's use of space on | ||||||
14 | the authority utility pole. Rates for collocation on | ||||||
15 | authority utility poles located outside of a right-of-way | ||||||
16 | are not subject to these limitations. In any controversy | ||||||
17 | concerning the appropriateness of a cost-based rate for an | ||||||
18 | authority utility pole located within a right-of-way, the | ||||||
19 | authority shall have the burden of proving that the rate | ||||||
20 | does not exceed the actual, direct, and reasonable costs | ||||||
21 | for the applicant's proposed use of the authority utility | ||||||
22 | pole. Nothing in this paragraph (3) prohibits a wireless | ||||||
23 | provider and an authority from mutually agreeing to an | ||||||
24 | annual recurring rate of less than $200 to collocate a | ||||||
25 | small wireless facility on an authority utility pole. | ||||||
26 | (4) Authorities or other persons owning or controlling |
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1 | authority utility poles within the right-of-way shall | ||||||
2 | offer rates, fees, and other terms that comply with | ||||||
3 | subparagraphs (A) through (E) of this paragraph (4). | ||||||
4 | Within 2 months after the effective date of this Act, an | ||||||
5 | authority or a person owning or controlling authority | ||||||
6 | utility poles shall make available, through ordinance or | ||||||
7 | an authority utility pole attachment agreement, license or | ||||||
8 | other agreement that makes available to wireless | ||||||
9 | providers, the rates, fees, and terms for the collocation | ||||||
10 | of small wireless facilities on authority utility poles | ||||||
11 | that comply with this Act and with subparagraphs (A) | ||||||
12 | through (E) of this paragraph (4). In the absence of such | ||||||
13 | an ordinance or agreement that complies with this Act, and | ||||||
14 | until such a compliant ordinance or agreement is adopted, | ||||||
15 | wireless providers may collocate small wireless facilities | ||||||
16 | and install utility poles under the requirements of this | ||||||
17 | Act. | ||||||
18 | (A) The rates, fees, and terms must be | ||||||
19 | nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral, and | ||||||
20 | commercially reasonable, and may address, among other | ||||||
21 | requirements, the requirements in subparagraphs (A) | ||||||
22 | through (I) of paragraph (6) of subsection (d) of this | ||||||
23 | Section; subsections (e), (i), and (k) of this | ||||||
24 | Section; Section 30; and Section 35, and must comply | ||||||
25 | with this Act. | ||||||
26 | (B) For authority utility poles that support |
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1 | aerial facilities used to provide communications | ||||||
2 | services or electric service, wireless providers shall | ||||||
3 | comply with the process for make-ready work under 47 | ||||||
4 | U.S.C. 224 and its implementing regulations, and the | ||||||
5 | authority shall follow a substantially similar process | ||||||
6 | for make-ready work except to the extent that the | ||||||
7 | timing requirements are otherwise addressed in this | ||||||
8 | Act. The good-faith estimate of the person owning or | ||||||
9 | controlling the authority utility pole for any | ||||||
10 | make-ready work necessary to enable the pole to | ||||||
11 | support the requested collocation shall include | ||||||
12 | authority utility pole replacement, if necessary. | ||||||
13 | (C) For authority utility poles that do not | ||||||
14 | support aerial facilities used to provide | ||||||
15 | communications services or electric service, the | ||||||
16 | authority shall provide a good-faith estimate for any | ||||||
17 | make-ready work necessary to enable the authority | ||||||
18 | utility pole to support the requested collocation, | ||||||
19 | including pole replacement, if necessary, within 90 | ||||||
20 | days after receipt of a complete application. | ||||||
21 | Make-ready work, including any authority utility pole | ||||||
22 | replacement, shall be completed within 60 days of | ||||||
23 | written acceptance of the good-faith estimate by the | ||||||
24 | applicant at the wireless provider's sole cost and | ||||||
25 | expense. Alternatively, if the authority determines | ||||||
26 | that applicable codes or public safety regulations |
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1 | require the authority utility pole to be replaced to | ||||||
2 | support the requested collocation, the authority may | ||||||
3 | require the wireless provider to replace the authority | ||||||
4 | utility pole at the wireless provider's sole cost and | ||||||
5 | expense. | ||||||
6 | (D) The authority shall not require more | ||||||
7 | make-ready work than required to meet applicable codes | ||||||
8 | or industry standards. Make-ready work may include | ||||||
9 | work needed to accommodate additional public safety | ||||||
10 | communications needs that are identified in a | ||||||
11 | documented and approved plan for the deployment of | ||||||
12 | public safety equipment as specified in paragraph (1) | ||||||
13 | of subsection (d) of this Section and included in an | ||||||
14 | existing or preliminary authority or public service | ||||||
15 | agency budget for attachment within one year of the | ||||||
16 | application. Fees for make-ready work, including any | ||||||
17 | authority utility pole replacement, shall not exceed | ||||||
18 | actual costs or the amount charged to communications | ||||||
19 | service providers for similar work and shall not | ||||||
20 | include any consultants' fees or expenses for | ||||||
21 | authority utility poles that do not support aerial | ||||||
22 | facilities used to provide communications services or | ||||||
23 | electric service. Make-ready work, including any pole | ||||||
24 | replacement, shall be completed within 60 days of | ||||||
25 | written acceptance of the good-faith estimate by the | ||||||
26 | wireless provider, at its sole cost and expense. |
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1 | (E) A wireless provider that has an existing | ||||||
2 | agreement with the authority on the effective date of | ||||||
3 | the Act may accept the rates, fees, and terms that an | ||||||
4 | authority makes available under this Act for the | ||||||
5 | collocation of small wireless facilities or the | ||||||
6 | installation of new utility poles for the collocation | ||||||
7 | of small wireless facilities that are the subject of | ||||||
8 | an application submitted 2 or more years after the | ||||||
9 | effective date of the Act as provided in this | ||||||
10 | paragraph (4) by notifying the authority that it opts | ||||||
11 | to accept such rates, fees, and terms. The existing | ||||||
12 | agreement remains in effect, subject to applicable | ||||||
13 | termination provisions, for the small wireless | ||||||
14 | facilities the wireless provider has collocated on the | ||||||
15 | authority's utility poles pursuant to applications | ||||||
16 | submitted to the authority before the wireless | ||||||
17 | provider provides such notice and exercises its option | ||||||
18 | under this subparagraph. | ||||||
19 | (j) An authority shall authorize the collocation of small | ||||||
20 | wireless facilities on utility poles owned or controlled by | ||||||
21 | the authority that are not located within rights-of-way to the | ||||||
22 | same extent the authority currently permits access to utility | ||||||
23 | poles for other commercial projects or uses. The collocations | ||||||
24 | shall be subject to reasonable and nondiscriminatory rates, | ||||||
25 | fees, and terms as provided in an agreement between the | ||||||
26 | authority and the wireless provider. |
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| |||||||
1 | (k) Nothing in this Section precludes an authority from | ||||||
2 | adopting reasonable rules with respect to the removal of | ||||||
3 | abandoned small wireless facilities. A small wireless facility | ||||||
4 | that is not operated for a continuous period of 12 months shall | ||||||
5 | be considered abandoned and the owner of the facility must | ||||||
6 | remove the small wireless facility within 90 days after | ||||||
7 | receipt of written notice from the authority notifying the | ||||||
8 | owner of the abandonment. The notice shall be sent by | ||||||
9 | certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by the | ||||||
10 | authority to the owner at the last known address of the owner. | ||||||
11 | If the small wireless facility is not removed within 90 days of | ||||||
12 | such notice, the authority may remove or cause the removal of | ||||||
13 | the facility pursuant to the terms of its pole attachment | ||||||
14 | agreement for authority utility poles or through whatever | ||||||
15 | actions are provided for abatement of nuisances or by other | ||||||
16 | law for removal and cost recovery. An authority may require a | ||||||
17 | wireless provider to provide written notice to the authority | ||||||
18 | if it sells or transfers small wireless facilities subject to | ||||||
19 | this Act within the jurisdictional boundary of the authority. | ||||||
20 | Such notice shall include the name and contact information of | ||||||
21 | the new wireless provider. | ||||||
22 | (l) Nothing in this Section requires an authority to | ||||||
23 | install or maintain any specific utility pole or to continue | ||||||
24 | to install or maintain utility poles in any location if the | ||||||
25 | authority makes a non-discriminatory decision to eliminate | ||||||
26 | above-ground utility poles of a particular type generally, |
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| |||||||
1 | such as electric utility poles, in all or a significant | ||||||
2 | portion of its geographic jurisdiction. For authority utility | ||||||
3 | poles with collocated small wireless facilities in place when | ||||||
4 | an authority makes a decision to eliminate above-ground | ||||||
5 | utility poles of a particular type generally, the authority | ||||||
6 | shall either (i) continue to maintain the authority utility | ||||||
7 | pole or install and maintain a reasonable alternative utility | ||||||
8 | pole or wireless support structure for the collocation of the | ||||||
9 | small wireless facility, or (ii) offer to sell the utility | ||||||
10 | pole to the wireless provider at a reasonable cost or allow the | ||||||
11 | wireless provider to install its own utility pole so it can | ||||||
12 | maintain service from that location.
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13 | (Source: P.A. 102-9, eff. 6-3-21; 102-21, eff. 6-25-21.)
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