State and Local Rights of Way

Citation
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, State and Local Rights of Way (full-text).

Overview
To assist rights-of-way stakeholders in understanding and improving the authorization process for constructing new communications networks that carry broadband Internet and other communications services, NTIA released this  report on state and local rights-of-way.

Intended as a resource for state and local land managers, communications providers, and other rights-of-way stakeholders, the report provides information about the laws, regulations, policies, and practices that affect state and local management of rights-of-way. The report includes a state-by-state matrix that identifies the rights-of-way laws relating to jurisdiction, compensation, timelines, nondiscrimination, mediation, and condemnation in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

The report also includes an evolving compendium of rights-of-way “success stories,” explaining how industry and government have devised creative new approaches to facilitate access to public rights-of-way. The report was intended to help advance the dialogue on rights-of-way management at the state and local level, with the goal of promoting broadband deployment across the United States.