SB1451eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1451 Engrossed LRB100 09256 AWJ 19412 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act.

Section 5. Legislative intent. Small wireless facilities are critical to delivering wireless access to advanced technology, broadband, and 9-1-1 services to homes, businesses, and schools in Illinois. Because of the integral role that the delivery of wireless technology plays in the economic vitality of the State of Illinois and in the lives of its citizens, the General Assembly has determined that a law addressing the deployment of wireless technology is of vital interest to the State. To ensure that public and private Illinois consumers continue to benefit from these services as soon as possible and to ensure that providers of wireless access have a fair and predictable process for the deployment of small wireless facilities in a manner consistent with the character of the area in which the small wireless facilities are deployed, the General Assembly is enacting this Act, which specifies how local authorities may regulate the collocation of small wireless facilities.

Section 7. Applicability. This Act does not apply to a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Antenna" means communications equipment that transmits or receives electromagnetic radio frequency signals used in the provision of wireless services.

"Applicable codes" means uniform building, fire, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical codes adopted by a recognized national code organization or local amendments to those codes, including the National Electric Safety Code.

"Applicant" means any person who submits an application and is a wireless provider.

"Application" means a request submitted by an applicant to an authority for a permit to collocate small wireless facilities as well as any applicable fee for the review of such application.

"Authority" means a unit of local government that has jurisdiction and control for use of public rights-of-way as provided by the Illinois Highway Code for placements within public rights-of-way or has zoning or land use control for placements not within public rights-of-way.

"Authority utility pole" means a utility pole owned or operated by an authority in public rights-of-way.

"Collocate" or "collocation" means to install, mount, maintain, modify, operate, or replace wireless facilities on or adjacent to a wireless support structure or utility pole.

"Communications service" means cable service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 522(6), as amended; information service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(24), as amended; telecommunications service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(53), as amended; mobile service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(33), as amended; or wireless service other than mobile service.

"Communications service provider" means a cable operator, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 522(5), as amended; a provider of information service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(24), as amended; a telecommunications carrier, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(51), as amended; or a wireless provider.

"FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission of the United States.

"Fee" means a one-time charge.

"Law" means a federal or State statute, common law, code, rule, regulation, order, or local ordinance or resolution.

"Micro wireless facility" means a small wireless facility that is not larger in dimension than 24 inches in length, 15 inches in width, and 12 inches in height and that has an exterior antenna, if any, no longer than 11 inches.

"Permit" means a written authorization required by an authority to perform an action or initiate, continue, or complete a project.

"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, or other entity or organization, including an authority.

"Rate" means a recurring charge.

"Right-of-way" means the area on, below, or above a public roadway, highway, street, public sidewalk, alley, or utility easement dedicated for compatible use. "Right-of-way" does not include authority-owned aerial lines.

"Small wireless facility" means a wireless facility that meets both of the following qualifications: (i) each antenna is located inside an enclosure of no more than 6 cubic feet in volume or, in the case of an antenna that has exposed elements, the antenna and all of its exposed elements could fit within an imaginary enclosure of no more than 6 cubic feet; and (ii) all other wireless equipment associated with the facility is cumulatively no more than 28 cubic feet in volume. The following types of associated ancillary equipment are not included in the calculation of equipment volume: electric meter, concealment elements, telecommunications demarcation box, ground-based enclosures, grounding equipment, power transfer switch, cut-off switch, and vertical cable runs for the connection of power and other services.

"Utility pole" means a pole or similar structure that is used in whole or in part by a communications service provider or for electric distribution, lighting, traffic control, signage, or a similar function.

"Wireless facility" means equipment at a fixed location that enables wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network, including: (i) equipment associated with wireless communications; and (ii) radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration. "Wireless facility" includes small wireless facilities. "Wireless facility" does not include: (i) the structure or improvements on, under, or within which the equipment is collocated; or (ii) wireline backhaul facilities, coaxial or fiber optic cable that is between wireless support structures or utility poles or coaxial, or fiber optic cable that is otherwise not immediately adjacent to or directly associated with an antenna.

"Wireless infrastructure provider" means any person, including a person authorized to provide telecommunications service in the State, that builds or installs wireless communication transmission equipment, wireless facilities, wireless support structures, or utility poles, but that is not a wireless services provider.

"Wireless provider" means a wireless infrastructure provider or a wireless services provider.

"Wireless services" means any services provided using licensed or unlicensed spectrum, whether at a fixed location or mobile, provided using wireless facilities.

"Wireless services provider" means a person who provides wireless services.

"Wireless support structure" means a freestanding structure, such as a monopole; tower, either guyed or self-supporting; billboard; or other existing or proposed structure designed to support or capable of supporting wireless facilities. "Wireless support structure" does not include a utility pole.

Section 15. Regulation of small wireless facilities.

(a) This Section applies to activities of a wireless provider within or outside rights-of-way.

(b) Except as provided in this Section, an authority may not prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small wireless facilities.

(c) Small wireless facilities shall be classified as permitted uses and not subject to zoning review or approval if they are collocated (i) in rights-of-way in any zone, or (ii) outside rights-of-way in property not zoned primarily for residential use.

(d) An authority may require an applicant to obtain one or more permits to collocate a small wireless facility, provided that the permits are of general applicability. An authority shall receive applications for, process, and issue permits subject to the following requirements:

(1) An authority may not directly or indirectly require an applicant to perform services unrelated to the collocation for which approval is sought, such as in-kind contributions to the authority, including reserving fiber, conduit, or pole space for the authority on the wireless provider's utility pole. An authority may reserve space on authority utility poles for future public safety uses or for the authority's electric utility uses, but a reservation of space may not preclude the collocation of a small wireless facility if the authority utility pole can accommodate both uses.

(2) An applicant shall not be required to provide more information to obtain a permit than the authority requires of a communications service provider that is not a wireless provider that requests to attach facilities to a structure; however, a wireless provider may be required to provide the following information when seeking a permit to collocate small wireless facilities on an authority utility pole:

(A) site specific structural integrity and make-ready analysis prepared by a structural engineer, as that term is defined in Section 4 of the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989;

(B) the location where each proposed small wireless facility or utility pole would be installed and photographs of the location and its immediate surroundings depicting the poles or structures on which each proposed small wireless facility would be mounted or location where utility poles or structures would be installed;

(C) specifications and drawings prepared by a structural engineer, as that term is defined in Section 4 of the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, for each proposed small wireless facility covered by the application as it is proposed to be installed;

(D) a proposed schedule for the installation and completion of each small wireless facility covered by the application, if approved; and

(E) certification that the collocation complies with paragraph (6) to the best of the applicant's knowledge.

(3) Subject to paragraph (6), an authority may not require the placement of small wireless facilities on any specific utility pole, or category of poles, or require multiple antenna systems on a single utility pole; however, with respect to an application for the collocation of a small wireless facility associated with a new utility pole, an authority may propose that the small wireless facility be collocated on an existing utility pole or existing wireless support structure within 50 feet of the proposed collocation, which the applicant shall accept if it has the right to use the alternate structure on reasonable terms and conditions and the alternate location and structure does not impose technical limits or additional material costs as determined by the applicant.

(4) Subject to paragraph (6), an authority may not limit the placement of pole-mounted small wireless facilities by minimum horizontal separation distances.

(5) An authority may limit the maximum height of a small wireless facility to 10 feet above the utility pole or wireless support structure on which the small wireless facility is collocated. Subject to any exception process in an authority's zoning ordinance, the authority may limit the height of new or replacement utility poles or wireless support structures on which small wireless facilities are collocated to the higher of: (i) 10 feet in height above the tallest existing utility pole, other than a utility pole supporting only wireless facilities, that is in place on the date the application is submitted to the authority, that is located within 500 feet of the new or replacement wireless support structure and that is in the same right of way within the jurisdictional boundary of the authority; or (ii) 45 feet above ground level.

(6) An authority may require that:

(A) the wireless provider's operation of the small wireless facilities in the right-of-way does not interfere with the frequencies used by the authority's public safety communications;

(B) the wireless provider comply with requirements that are imposed by a contract between an authority and a private property owner that concern design or construction standards applicable to utility poles and ground-mounted equipment located in the right-of-way;

(C) the wireless provider comply with applicable spacing requirements in applicable codes and ordinances concerning the location of ground-mounted equipment located in the right-of-way if the requirements include a waiver, zoning, or other process that addresses wireless provider requests for exception or variance and do not prohibit granting of such exceptions or variances;

(D) the wireless provider comply with local code provisions or regulations concerning undergrounding requirements that prohibit the installation of new or the modification of existing utility poles in a right of way without prior approval if the requirements include a waiver, zoning, or other process that addresses requests to install such new utility poles or modify such existing utility poles and do not prohibit the replacement of utility poles;

(E) the wireless provider comply with generally applicable standards adopted by an authority for construction in the rights-of-way; and

(F) a wireless provider not collocate small wireless facilities on authority utility poles that are part of an electric distribution or transmission system within the communication worker safety zone of the pole or the electric supply zone of the pole; however, the antenna and support equipment of the small wireless facility may be located in the communications space on the pole and on the top of the pole, if not otherwise unavailable, if the wireless provider complies with applicable codes for work involving the top of the pole; for purposes of this subparagraph (F), the terms "communications space", "communication worker safety zone", and "electric supply zone" have the meanings given to those terms in the National Electric Safety Code as published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

(7) Within 30 days after receiving an application, an authority must determine whether the application is complete and notify the applicant. If an application is incomplete, an authority must specifically identify the missing information. An application shall be deemed complete if the authority fails to provide notification to the applicant within 30 days after when all documents, information, and fees specifically enumerated in the authority's permit application form are submitted by the applicant to the authority. Processing deadlines are tolled from the time the authority sends the notice of incompleteness to the time the applicant provides the missing information.

(8) An application shall be processed on a nondiscriminatory basis and deemed approved if the authority fails to approve or deny the application within 90 days; however, if an applicant intends to proceed with the permitted activity on a deemed approved basis, the applicant must notify the authority in writing of its intention to invoke the deemed approved remedy no sooner than 75 days after the submission of a completed application. The permit shall be deemed approved on the latter of the 90th day after submission of the complete application or the 10th day after the receipt of the deemed approved notice by the authority. The receipt of the deemed approved notice shall not preclude the authority's denial of the permit request within the time limits as provided under this Act.

(9) An authority shall approve an application unless the application does not meet the applicable codes, local code provisions or regulations that concern public safety, written design standards that are generally applicable for decorative utility poles or reasonable stealth and concealment requirements, and the requirements of paragraph (6). If an authority determines that applicable codes, local code provisions or regulations, or the requirements of paragraph (6) require that the utility pole or wireless support structure be replaced before the requested collocation, approval may be conditioned on the replacement of the utility pole or wireless support structure. The authority must document the basis for a denial, including the specific code provisions or application conditions on which the denial was based, and send the documentation to the applicant on or before the day the authority denies an application. The applicant may cure the deficiencies identified by the authority and resubmit the application within 30 days after notice of denial is sent to the applicant without paying an additional application fee. The authority shall approve or deny the revised application within 30 days after the applicant resubmits the application or it is deemed approved; however, the applicant must notify the authority in writing of its intention to proceed with the permitted activity on a deemed approved basis, which may be submitted with the resubmitted application. Any subsequent review shall be limited to the deficiencies cited in the denial.

(10) The time period for applications may be further tolled by:

(A) the express agreement in writing by both the applicant and the authority; or

(B) a local, State, or federal disaster declaration or similar emergency that causes the delay.

(11) An applicant seeking to collocate small wireless facilities within the jurisdiction of a single authority shall be allowed, at the applicant's discretion, to file a consolidated application and receive a single permit for the collocation of up to 25 small wireless facilities if the collocations each involve substantially the same type of small wireless facility and substantially the same type of structure. If an application includes multiple small wireless facilities, the authority may remove small wireless facility collocations from the application and treat separately small wireless facility collocations for which incomplete information has been provided or that do not qualify for consolidated treatment or that are denied. The authority may issue separate permits for each collocation that is approved in a consolidated application.

(12) Collocation for which a permit is granted shall be completed within 180 days after issuance of the permit, unless the authority and the wireless provider agree to extend this period or a delay is caused by make-ready work for an authority utility pole or by the lack of commercial power or backhaul availability at the site. Otherwise, the permit shall be void unless the authority grants an extension in writing to the applicant.

(13) The duration of a permit shall be for a period of not less than 10 years, and the permit shall be renewed for equivalent durations unless the authority makes a finding that the small wireless facilities or the new or modified utility pole do not comply with the applicable codes or local code provisions or regulations in paragraphs (6) and (9).

(14) An authority may not prohibit, either expressly or de facto, the (i) filing, receiving, or processing applications, or (ii) issuing of permits or other approvals, if any, for the collocation of small wireless facilities unless there has been a local, State, or federal disaster declaration or similar emergency that causes the delay.

(15) Applicants shall submit applications, supporting information, and notices by personal delivery or as otherwise required by the authority. An authority may require that permits, supporting information, and notices be submitted by personal delivery at the authority's designated place of business, by regular mail postmarked on the date due, or by any other commonly used means, including electronic mail, as required by the authority.

(e) Application fees are subject to the following requirements:

(1) An authority may charge an application fee only if the fee is required for similar types of commercial development within the authority's jurisdiction.

(2) An authority shall only charge fees for the actual, direct, and reasonable costs incurred by the authority relating to the granting or processing of an application. The fees shall be reasonably related in time to the incurring of such costs.

(3) A fee may not include: (i) travel expenses incurred by a third party in its review of an application; or (ii) direct payment or reimbursement of fees charged on a contingency basis or a result-based arrangement.

(4) Total application fees, where permitted, shall not exceed the lesser of: (i) the amount charged by the authority for a building permit for any similar commercial construction, activity, or land use development; or (ii) $350 for each small wireless facility addressed in the application.

(f) An authority shall not require an application, approval, or permit, or require any fees or other charges, from a communications service provider authorized to occupy the rights-of-way, for: (i) routine maintenance; (ii) the replacement of wireless facilities with wireless facilities that are substantially similar, the same size, or smaller; or (iii) the installation, placement, maintenance, operation, or replacement of micro wireless facilities that are suspended on cables that are strung between existing utility poles in compliance with applicable safety codes. However, an authority may require a permit to work within rights-of-way for activities that affect traffic patterns or require lane closures.

(g) Nothing in this Act authorizes a person to collocate small wireless facilities on: (1) private property or a privately owned utility pole or wireless support structure without the consent of the property owner; (2) property owned, leased, or controlled by a park district, forest preserve district, or conservation district for public park, recreation, or conservation purposes without the consent of the affected district, excluding the placement of facilities on rights-of-way located in an affected district that are under the jurisdiction and control of a different unit of local government as provided by the Illinois Highway Code; or (3) property owned by a rail carrier registered under Section 18c-7201 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, Metra Commuter Rail or any other public commuter rail service, or an electric utility as defined in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act, without the consent of the rail carrier, public commuter rail service, or electric utility. The provisions of this Act do not apply to an electric or gas public utility or such utility's wireless facilities if the facilities are being used, developed, and maintained consistent with the provisions of subsection (i) of Section 16-108.5 of the Public Utilities Act. For the purposes of this subsection, "public utility" has the meaning given to that term in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to relieve any person from any requirement (1) to obtain a franchise or a state-issued authorization to offer cable service or video service or (2) to obtain any required permission to install, place, maintain, or operate communications facilities, other than small wireless facilities subject to this Act.

(h) Agreements between authorities and wireless providers that relate to the collocation of small wireless facilities in the right-of-way, including the collocation of small wireless facilities on authority utility poles, that are in effect before the wireless provider accepts rates or fees under this Act remain in effect for all small wireless facilities collocated on the authority's utility poles pursuant to applications submitted to the authority before the effective date of this Act, subject to applicable termination provisions. The wireless provider may accept the rates, fees, and terms provided under this Act for the collocation of small wireless facilities that are the subject of an application submitted after the rates, fees, and terms become effective.

(i) An authority shall allow the collocation of small wireless facilities on authority utility poles subject to the following:

(1) An authority may not enter into an exclusive arrangement with any person for the right to attach small wireless facilities to authority utility poles.

(2) The rates and fees for collocations on authority utility poles shall be nondiscriminatory regardless of the services provided by the collocating person.

(3) An authority may charge an annual recurring rate to collocate a small wireless facility on an authority utility pole that equals (i) $200 per year or (ii) the actual, direct, and reasonable costs related to the wireless provider's use of space on the authority utility pole. In any controversy concerning the appropriateness of a cost-based rate for an authority utility pole, the authority shall have the burden of proving that the rate does not exceed the actual, direct, and reasonable costs for the applicant's proposed use of the pole. Nothing in this paragraph (3) prohibits a wireless provider and an authority from mutually agreeing to an annual recurring rate of less than $200 to collocate a small wireless facility on an authority utility pole.

(4) If an authority has an existing pole attachment rate, fee, or other term that does not comply with the requirements in this Section, the authority shall, no later than 6 months after the effective date of this Act, reform the rate, fee, or term in compliance with this Section.

(5) Authorities or other persons owning or controlling authority utility poles shall offer rates, fees, and other terms that comply with subparagraphs (A) through (D) of this paragraph (5). Within 6 months after the effective date of this Act or 3 months after receiving a request to collocate its first small wireless facility on an authority utility pole, whichever is later, a person owning or controlling authority utility poles shall make available, through ordinance or otherwise, the rates, fees, and terms for the collocation of small wireless facilities on such poles that comply with subparagraphs (A) through (D) of this paragraph (5).

(A) The rates, fees, and terms must be nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral, and commercially reasonable and must comply with this subsection (i).

(B) For authority utility poles that support aerial facilities used to provide communications services or electric service, wireless providers shall comply with the process for make-ready work under 47 U.S.C. 224 and its implementing regulations, and the authority shall follow a substantially similar process for make-ready work except to the extent that the timing requirements are otherwise addressed in this Act. The good-faith estimate of the person owning or controlling the pole for any make-ready work necessary to enable the pole to support the requested collocation shall include pole replacement, if necessary.

(C) For authority utility poles that do not support aerial facilities used to provide communications services or electric service, the authority shall provide a good-faith estimate for any make-ready work necessary to enable the pole to support the requested collocation, including pole replacement, if necessary, within 90 days after receipt of a complete application. Make-ready work, including any pole replacement, shall be completed within 60 days of written acceptance of the good-faith estimate by the applicant. Alternatively, if the authority determines that applicable codes or public safety regulations require the authority utility pole to be replaced to support the requested collocation, the authority may require the wireless provider to replace the authority utility pole.

(D) The authority shall not require more make-ready work than required to meet applicable codes or industry standards. Fees for make-ready work, including any pole replacement, shall not exceed actual costs or the amount charged to communications service providers for similar work and shall not include any consultants' fees or expenses for authority utility poles that do not support aerial facilities used to provide communications services or electric service.

(j) An authority shall authorize the collocation of small wireless facilities on utility poles owned or controlled by the authority that are not located within rights-of-way to the same extent the authority permits access to utility poles for other commercial projects or uses. The collocations shall be subject to reasonable and nondiscriminatory rates, fees, and terms as provided in an agreement between the authority and the wireless provider.

(k) Nothing in this Section precludes an authority from adopting reasonable rules with respect to the removal of abandoned small wireless facilities. A small wireless facility that is not operated for a continuous period of 12 months shall be considered abandoned and the owner of the facility must remove the small wireless facility within 90 days after receipt of written notice from the authority notifying the owner of the abandonment. The notice shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by the authority to the owner at the last known address of the owner.

(l) Nothing in this Section requires an authority to install or maintain any specific utility pole or to continue to install or maintain utility poles in any location if the authority makes a non-discriminatory decision to eliminate above-ground utility poles of a particular type generally, such as electric utility poles, in all or a significant portion of its geographic jurisdiction. For authority utility poles with collocated small wireless facilities in place when an authority makes a decision to eliminate above-ground utility poles of a particular type generally, the authority shall either (i) continue to maintain the authority utility pole or install and maintain a reasonable alternative utility pole or wireless support structure for the collocation of the small wireless facility, or (ii) offer to sell the utility pole to the wireless provider at a reasonable cost or allow the wireless provider to install its own utility pole so it can maintain service from that location.

Section 20. Local authority. Subject to this Act and applicable federal law, an authority may continue to exercise zoning, land use, planning, and permitting authority within its territorial boundaries, including with respect to wireless support structures and utility poles; except that no authority shall have or exercise any jurisdiction or authority over the design, engineering, construction, installation, or operation of any small wireless facility located in an interior structure or upon the site of any campus, stadium, or athletic facility not otherwise owned or controlled by the authority, other than to comply with applicable codes and local code provisions concerning public safety. Nothing in this Act authorizes the State or any political subdivision, including an authority, to require wireless facility deployment or to regulate wireless services.

Section 25. Dispute resolution. A circuit court has jurisdiction to resolve all disputes arising under this Act. Pending resolution of a dispute concerning rates for collocation of small wireless facilities on authority utility poles, the authority shall allow the collocating person to collocate on its poles at annual rates of no more than $200 per year per utility pole, with rates to be determined upon final resolution of the dispute.

Section 30. Indemnification. A wireless provider shall indemnify and hold an authority harmless against any and all liability or loss from personal injury or property damage resulting from or arising out of, in whole or in part, the use or occupancy of the authority improvements or right-of-way associated with such improvements by the wireless provider or its employees, agents, or contractors arising out of the rights and privileges granted under this Act. A wireless provider has no obligation to indemnify or hold harmless against any liabilities and losses as may be due to or caused by the sole negligence of the authority or its employees or agents. A wireless provider shall further waive any claims that they may have against an authority with respect to consequential, incidental, or special damages, however caused, based on the theory of liability.

Section 35. Insurance.

(a) Except for a wireless provider with an existing franchise to occupy and operate in the rights-of-way, during the period in which the wireless provider's facilities are located on the authority improvements or rights-of-way, the authority may require the wireless provider to carry, at the wireless provider's own cost and expense, the following insurance: (i) property insurance for its property's replacement cost against all risks; (ii) workers' compensation insurance, as required by law; or (iii) commercial general liability insurance with respect to its activities on the authority improvements or rights-of-way to afford minimum protection limits consistent with its requirements of other users of authority improvements or rights-of-way, including coverage for bodily injury and property damage. An authority may require a wireless provider to include the authority as an additional insured on the commercial general liability policy and provide certification and documentation of inclusion of the authority in a commercial general liability policy as reasonably required by the authority.

(b) A wireless provider may self-insure all or a portion of the insurance coverage and limit requirements required by an authority. A wireless provider that self-insures is not required, to the extent of the self-insurance, to comply with the requirement for the naming of additional insureds under this Section. A wireless provider that elects to self-insure shall provide to the authority evidence sufficient to demonstrate its financial ability to self-insure the insurance coverage and limits required by the authority.

Section 40. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate small wireless facilities in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

Section 90. Repeal. This Act is repealed on June 1, 2020.

Section 100. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 5-12001.2 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-12001.2)

Sec. 5-12001.2. Regulation of telecommunications facilities; Lake County pilot project. In addition to any other requirements under this Division concerning the regulation of telecommunications facilities and except as provided by the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act, the following applies to any new telecommunications facilities in Lake County that are not AM telecommunications towers or facilities:

(a) For every new wireless telecommunications facility requiring a new tower structure, a telecommunications carrier shall provide the county with documentation consisting of the proposed location, a site plan, and an elevation that sufficiently describes a proposed wireless facility location.

(b) The county shall have 7 days to review the facility proposal and contact the telecommunications carrier in writing via e-mail or other written means as specified by the telecommunications carrier. This written communication shall either approve the proposed location or request a meeting to review other possible alternative locations. If requested, the meeting shall take place within 7 days after the date of the written communication.

(c) At the meeting, the telecommunications carrier shall provide the county documentation consisting of radio frequency engineering criteria and a corresponding telecommunications facility search ring map, together with documentation of the carrier's efforts to site the proposed facility within the telecommunications facility search ring.

(d) Within 21 days after receipt of the carrier's documentation, the county shall propose either an alternative site within the telecommunications facility search ring, or an alternative site outside of the telecommunications search ring that meets the radio frequency engineering criteria provided by the telecommunications carrier and that will not materially increase the construction budget beyond what was estimated on the original carrier proposed site.

(e) If the county's proposed alternative site meets the radio frequency engineering criteria provided by the telecommunications carrier, and will not materially increase the construction budget beyond what was estimated on the original carrier proposed site, then the telecommunications carrier shall agree to build the facility at the alternative location, subject to the negotiation of a lease with commercially reasonable terms and the obtainment of the customary building permits.

(f) If the telecommunications carrier can demonstrate that: (i) the county's proposed alternative site does not meet the radio frequency engineering criteria, (ii) the county's proposed alternative site will materially increase the construction budget beyond what was estimated on the original carrier proposed site, (iii) the county has failed to provide an alternative site, or (iv) after a period of 90 days after receipt of the alternative site, the telecommunications carrier has failed, after acting in good faith and with due diligence, to obtain a lease or, at a minimum, a letter of intent to lease the alternative site at lease rates not materially greater than the lease rate for the original proposed site; then the carrier can proceed to permit and construct the site under the provisions and standards of Section 5-12001.1 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 98-197, eff. 8-9-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)