Sec. 15.

(1) This section applies to activities of a wireless provider within the public right-of-way.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), an authority may require a permit to colocate a small cell wireless facility or install, modify, or replace a utility pole on which a small cell wireless facility will be colocated if the permit is of general applicability. The processing of an application for such a permit is subject to all of the following:

(a) The authority shall not directly or indirectly require an applicant to perform services unrelated to the collocation for which a permit is sought, such as reserving fiber, conduit, or pole space for the authority or making other in-kind contributions to the authority.

(b) An authority may require an applicant to provide information and documentation to enable the authority to make a decision with regard to the criteria in subdivision (i). An authority may also require a certificate of compliance with FCC rules related to radio frequency emissions from a small cell wireless facility.

(c) If the proposed activity will occur within a shared ROW or an ROW that overlaps another ROW, a wireless provider shall provide, to each affected authority to which an application for the activity is not submitted, notification of the wireless provider's intent to locate a small cell wireless facility within the ROW. An authority may require proof of other necessary permits, permit applications, or easements to ensure all necessary permissions for the proposed activity are obtained.

(d) Within 25 days after receiving an application, an authority shall notify the applicant in writing whether the application is complete. If the application is incomplete, the notice shall clearly and specifically delineate all missing documents or information. The notice tolls the running of the time for approving or denying an application under subdivision (h).

(e) The running of time period tolled under subdivision (d) resumes when the applicant makes a supplemental submission in response to the authority's notice of incompleteness. If a supplemental submission is inadequate, the authority shall notify the applicant in writing not later than 10 days after receiving the supplemental submission that the supplemental submission did not provide the information identified in the original notice delineating missing documents or information. The time period may be tolled in the case of second or subsequent notices under the procedures identified in subdivision (d). Second or subsequent notices of incompleteness may not specify missing documents or information that was not delineated in the original notice of incompleteness.

(f) The authority may require an applicant to include an attestation that the small cell wireless facilities will be operational for use by a wireless services provider within 1 year after the permit issuance date, unless the authority and the applicant agree to extend this period or delay is caused by lack of commercial power or communications transport facilities to the site.

(g) The application shall be processed on a nondiscriminatory basis.

(h) The authority shall approve or deny the application and notify the applicant in writing within the following period of time after the application is received:

(i) For an application for the collocation of small cell wireless facilities on a utility pole, 60 days, subject to the following adjustments:

(A) Add 15 days if an application from another wireless provider was received within 1 week of the application in question.

(B) Add 15 days if, before the otherwise applicable 60-day or 75-day time period under this subparagraph elapses, the authority notifies the applicant in writing that an extension is needed and the reasons for the extension.

(ii) For an application for a new or replacement utility pole that meets the height requirements of section 13(5)(a) and associated small cell facility, 90 days, subject to the following adjustments:

(A) Add 15 days if an application from another wireless provider was received within 1 week of the application in question.

(B) Add 15 days if, before the otherwise applicable 90-day or 105-day time period under this subparagraph elapses, the authority notifies the applicant in writing that an extension is needed and the reasons for the extension.

If the authority fails to comply with this subdivision, the completed application is considered to be approved subject to the condition that the applicant provide the authority not less than 7 days' advance written notice that the applicant will be proceeding with the work pursuant to this automatic approval.

(i) An authority may deny a completed application for a proposed collocation of a small cell wireless facility or installation, modification, or replacement of a utility pole that meets the height requirements in section 13(5)(a) only if the proposed activity would do any of the following:

(i) Materially interfere with the safe operation of traffic control equipment.

(ii) Materially interfere with sight lines or clear zones for transportation or pedestrians.

(iii) Materially interfere with compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, or similar federal, state, or local standards regarding pedestrian access or movement.

(iv) Materially interfere with maintenance or full unobstructed use of public utility infrastructure under the jurisdiction of an authority.

(v) With respect to drainage infrastructure under the jurisdiction of an authority, either of the following:

(A) Materially interfere with maintenance or full unobstructed use of the drainage infrastructure as it was originally designed.

(B) Not be located a reasonable distance from the drainage infrastructure to ensure maintenance under the drain code of 1956, 1956 PA 40, MCL 280.1 to 280.630, and access to the drainage infrastructure.

(vi) Fail to comply with reasonable, nondiscriminatory, written spacing requirements of general applicability adopted by ordinance or otherwise that apply to the location of ground-mounted equipment and new utility poles and that do not prevent a wireless provider from serving any location.

(vii) Fail to comply with applicable codes.

(viii) Fail to comply with section 13(7) or (8).

(ix) Fail to meet reasonable, objective, written stealth or concealment criteria for small cell wireless facilities applicable in a historic district or other designated area, as specified in an ordinance or otherwise and nondiscriminatorily applied to all other occupants of the ROW, including electric utilities, incumbent or competitive local exchange carriers, fiber providers, cable television operators, and the authority.

(j) If the completed application is denied, the notice under subdivision (h) shall explain the reasons for the denial and, if applicable, cite the specific provisions of applicable codes on which the denial is based. The applicant may cure the deficiencies identified by the authority and resubmit the application within 30 days after the denial without paying an additional application fee. The authority shall approve or deny the revised application within 30 days. The authority shall limit its review of the revised application to the deficiencies cited in the denial.

(k) An applicant may at the applicant's discretion file a consolidated application and receive a single permit for the collocation of up to 20 small cell wireless facilities within the jurisdiction of a single authority or, in the case of the state transportation department, a single designated control section as identified on the department's website. The small cell wireless facilities within a consolidated application must consist of substantially similar equipment and be placed on similar types of utility poles or wireless support structures. An authority may approve a permit for 1 or more small cell wireless facilities included in a consolidated application and deny a permit for the remaining small cell facilities. An authority shall not deny a permit for a small cell wireless facility included in a consolidated application on the basis that a permit is being denied for 1 or more other small cell facilities included in that application.

(l) Within 1 year after a permit is granted, a wireless provider shall complete collocation of a small cell wireless facility that is to be operational for use by a wireless services provider, unless the authority and the applicant agree to extend this period or the delay is caused by the lack of commercial power or communications facilities at the site. If the wireless provider fails to complete the collocation within the applicable time, the permit is void, and the wireless provider may reapply for a permit. A permittee may voluntarily request that a permit be terminated.

(m) Approval of an application authorizes the wireless provider to do both of the following:

(i) Undertake the installation or collocation.

(ii) Subject to relocation requirements that apply to similarly situated users of the ROW and the applicant's right to terminate at any time, maintain the small cell wireless facilities and any associated utility poles or wireless support structures covered by the permit for so long as the site is in use and in compliance with the initial permit under this act.

(n) An authority shall not institute a moratorium on filing, receiving, or processing applications or issuing permits for the collocation of small cell wireless facilities or the installation, modification, or replacement of utility poles on which small cell wireless facilities will be colocated.

(o) The authority and an applicant may extend a time period under this subsection by mutual agreement.

(3) An application fee for a permit under subsection (2) shall not exceed the lesser of the following:

(a) $200.00 for each small cell wireless facility alone.

(b) $300.00 for each small cell wireless facility and a new utility pole to which it will be attached.

Every 5 years after the effective date of this act, the maximum fees then authorized under this subsection are increased by 10% and rounded to the nearest dollar.

(4) An authority may revoke a permit, upon 30 days' notice and an opportunity to cure, if the permitted small cell wireless facilities and any associated utility pole fail to meet the requirements of subsection (2)(i).

(5) An authority shall not require a permit or any other approval or require fees or rates for any of the following:

(a) The replacement of a small cell wireless facility with a small cell wireless facility that is not larger or heavier, in compliance with applicable codes.

(b) Routine maintenance of a small cell wireless facility, utility pole, or wireless support structure.

(c) The installation, placement, maintenance, operation, or replacement of a micro wireless facility that is suspended on cables strung between utility poles or wireless support structures in compliance with applicable codes.

(6) An authority that receives an application to place a new utility pole may propose an alternate location within the ROW or on property or structures owned or controlled by an authority within 75 feet of the proposed location to either place the new utility pole or colocate on an existing structure. The applicant shall use the alternate location if, as determined by the applicant, the applicant has the right to do so on reasonable terms and conditions and the alternate location does not impose unreasonable technical limits or significant additional costs.

(7) Before discontinuing its use of a small cell wireless facility, utility pole, or wireless support structure, a wireless provider shall notify an authority in writing. The notice shall specify when and how the wireless provider intends to remove the small cell wireless facility, utility pole, or wireless support structure. The authority may impose reasonable and nondiscriminatory requirements and specifications for the wireless provider to return the property to its preinstallation condition. If the wireless provider does not complete the removal within 45 days after the discontinuance of use, the authority may complete the removal and assess the costs of removal against the wireless provider. A permit under this section for a small cell wireless facility expires upon removal of the small cell wireless facility.

(8) This section does not prohibit an authority from requiring a permit for work that will unreasonably affect traffic patterns or obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic in the ROW.

History: 2018, Act 365, Eff. Mar. 12, 2019