HF 2035: Relating to public utility access to public road rights-of-way

What it does

This bill prohibits a governmental body which exercises jurisdiction over roadways (agency) from requiring a public utility to place utility facilities within an agency-owned conduit as a condition of accessing a public road. An agency in control of a road must provide nondiscriminatory access to the road and nondiscriminatory access to an agency-owned conduit for projects related to broadband infrastructure. Current law is silent as to whether an agency can require a public utility to use an agency’s conduit as a condition of accessing a public road.

House subcommittee · named January 24, 2022

• Rep. Ray Sorensen (R) · ray.sorensen@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Robert P. Bacon (R)
• Rep. Dave Jacoby (D) · david.jacoby@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 6 for, 10 against

For: AT & T; Iowa Cable and Telecommunications Association; Iowa Communications Alliance; Lumen; Mediacom Communications Corporation; Windstream Communications Corporation

Against: City of Coralville; City of Des Moines; City of Waukee; Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities; Iowa Cable and Telecommunications Association; Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Iowa League of Cities; Linn County Board of Supervisors; Mediacom Communications Corporation; Urban County Coalition

In plain words

1. January 14, 2022Filed in the House and sent to the Transportation committee
2. January 24, 2022House subcommittee named: Sorensen, Bacon and Jacoby
3. January 26, 2022Subcommittee recommended passing it
4. February 3, 2022Approved by the House committee
5. February 3, 2022Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2296
6. February 23, 2022Withdrawn