(1) (a) The state or a political subdivision shall provide notice on a competitively neutral basis to broadband providers of any utility trenching project that it conducts, but notice is not required for emergency repair projects. The state or political subdivision shall provide the notice a minimum of ten business days prior to the start of the project involving trenching.
(b) The department of transportation shall maintain a public list of all broadband providers that would like to receive notice of a utility trenching project and the providers' addresses on the website it maintains. To be eligible to receive notice under paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), a broadband provider must request the department of transportation to be included in the department list. A political subdivision may rely on the department list when making its notifications, and such notifications may be made by electronic mail.
(2) (a) For any trenching project conducted by the state or a political subdivision, the state or political subdivision shall allow joint trenching by broadband providers on a nonexclusive and nondiscriminatory basis for the placement of broadband facilities, except as set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2). This subsection (2) does not limit the ability of the state, political subdivision, or any private entity to share the costs of construction related to the trenching project with the broadband provider.
(b) The state or a political subdivision may deny joint trenching by broadband providers if the joint trenching will hinder or obstruct highway safety or the construction, maintenance, operations, or related regulation of highway facilities or if it is not feasible because it will delay the repair or construction of a political subdivision's water, wastewater, electricity, or gas line or because collocation with a political subdivision's water, wastewater, electricity, or gas line will hinder or obstruct the maintenance or operations of a political subdivision's water, wastewater, electricity, or gas facilities.
(3) (a) Nothing in this section is intended to preempt or otherwise replace requirements for joint trenching that may be imposed by a political subdivision.
Nothing in this section requires a private entity undertaking a trenching project toallow a broadband provider to participate in the trenching project.
Any provision in this section that conflicts with federal law is unenforceable.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or delay commencement orprogress of a construction, maintenance, or trenching project.
(4) As used in this section, "trenching" means a construction project in which a highway right-of-way surface is opened or removed for the purpose of laying or installing conduit, fiber, or similar infrastructure in excess of one mile in length. "Trenching" does not mean any other activity or project for the construction or maintenance, including drainage or culvert work, of a highway facility.
Source: L. 2014: Entire section added, (HB 14-1327), ch. 149, p. 509, § 6, effective August 6.
Cross references: For the short title ("Broadband Deployment Act") in HB 14-1327, see section 1 of chapter 149, Session Laws of Colorado 2014.