Johns Creek Opposes Broadband Infrastructure Bill

JOHNS CREEK, GA — The Johns Creek City Council has come out against legislation that it believes would erode local governments' attempts to manage and control what goes into their rights-of-way. The Council has voiced its opposition to Senate Bill 426, which is making its way through the Georgia General Assembly.

The bill, titled the Broadband Infrastructure Leads To Development Act, would allow companies to install utility poles and wireless facilities in city-owned rights of way "as a matter of right," the city notes. This move would cut down or eliminate local control over what would be an appropriate use of right-of-way.

"The legislation does not strike an appropriate balance between the need for deployment of wireless broadband infrastructure and the need for local governments to effectively manage the aesthetics of its own right-of-way," the City Council's resolution states.

The bill, which can be read here, passed the Georgia Senate with a vote of 52-2, and is now under consideration in the Georgia House of Representatives. It is sponsored by State Senators Steven Gooch of Dahlonega, John Kennedy of Macon, Bill Cowsert of Athens, Mike Dugan of Carrollton, Butch Miller of Gainesville and Brandon Beach of Alpharetta.

Johns Creek also notes that if the bill is passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal, it would allow utility poles in the right-of-way to be as high as 50 feet from grade — taller than any existing pole in the city.

"Reasonable efforts by the city to use local control to preserve the look and feel of the right of way is critical to maintaining property values," the city added.

You can read the city of Johns Creek's resolution by clicking here. Other north Fulton cities such as Sandy Springs, Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta have also passed resolutions announcing opposition to the legislation.

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