Arizona Telecommunications & Information Council (ATIC) Multitenant Building Telecommunications Access Study PREVIOUS CONTENTS APPENDIX 5
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FCC Local and State Government Advisory Committee RecommendationAppendix 5: Excerpts from Selected Resource Documents
Summary of S.1301 - Competitive Access to Federal Buildings Act
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of Inquiry, and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket No. 99-217, CC Docket No. 96-98
S.1301, "Competitive Access to Federal Buildings Act", was introduced on June 29th, 1999 by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and cosponsored by Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), and Senators Ernest Hollings (D-SC) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND). It was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. The legislation requires the Federal government, as the nation's largest landlord, to promote nondiscriminatory access to competitive telecommunications carriers for services provided to tenants in buildings owned or leased by the Federal government.
"The Competitive Access to Federal Buildings Act" would do the following: S.1301 will forbid Federal agencies from entering into rental or lease contracts unless the owner or operator permits nondiscriminatory access. The owner must either commit to provide such access to competitive carriers as a matter of contract or certify that they are already bound to provide such access under State law. The property owner may charge a reasonable fee for access based on commercial rental value of space actually used by the carrier, and may impose reasonable requirements necessary to protect the property and tenants. The costs of installation, maintenance and reimbursement for any damage caused to building facilities will be borne by the telecommunications carrier. And the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce is charged with implementing this legislation.
Legislation establishing such a policy is necessary because incumbent telecommunications carriers have historically enjoyed an advantage in accessing the rooftops, risers, telephone cabinets, conduits, points of entry or demarcation for internal wiring and utility spaces in all buildings. This advantage predates the new technologies developed by competitive carriers, such as fixed wireless or satellite services.
Passage of this bill will allow taxpayers to enjoy "the benefits and cost savings from the competitive provision of telecommunications services and information services by telecommunications carriers". The Federal government is leading by example - the establishment of this policy will encourage States to develop similar policies, which will promote telecommunications competition. Several states, including Texas and Connecticut, have already enacted similar measures.
(This ALTS Summary available at http://www.alts.org/smartbuildings/7199releaseS1301.htm)
(U.S. Government Thomas Link to the Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:s.01301:)
Multitenant Building Telecommunications Access Study PREVIOUS CONTENTS APPENDIX 5
returnNEXT Selected Resource Documents:
FCC Local and State Government Advisory Committee Recommendation