Loading chat...

GA HB556

Bill

Status

Introduced

3/1/2019

Primary Sponsor

Lee Hawkins

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2019-2020 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Telephone companies without retail, end user customers within a municipal authority's boundaries must pay due compensation at a rate of 5¢ per linear foot annually for right-of-way use, effective January 1, 2021, replacing the previous structure tied to Department of Transportation rates
  • Municipal authorities may charge a one-time permit application processing fee of $100.00 to telephone companies without retail end user customers, in addition to the annual per-linear-foot fee
  • Establishes a civil penalty for telephone companies that fail to pay due compensation for four or more consecutive quarters, capped at 10% of total unpaid due compensation over a three-year period, with municipal authorities authorized to suspend new permit issuance until the penalty is paid
  • Telephone companies switching between the two due compensation structures (revenue-based under paragraph 9 vs. linear-foot-based under paragraph 19) must provide written notice to the municipal authority at least 10 calendar days before the end of the first quarter in which the change takes effect
  • Updates the dispute protection date from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2020, preserving any franchise fee or due compensation disputes that were pending on or before that date

Legislative Description

Public utilities and public transportation; limitations on fees that may be charged for installation of telephone facilities; provide

Last Action

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

3/4/2020

Full Bill Text

No bill text available