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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85520</law_id><section_number>56-484.31</section_number><catch_line>Attachment of small cell facilities on government-owned structures</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="15.1">Wireless Communications Infrastructure</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If the Commonwealth or a locality agrees to permit a <span class="dictionary">wireless services provider</span> or a <span class="dictionary">wireless infrastructure provider</span> to attach small cell facilities to government-owned structures, both the government entity and the wireless services or <span class="dictionary">wireless infrastructure provider</span> shall negotiate in good faith to arrive at a mutually agreeable <span class="dictionary">contract</span> terms and conditions. <a id="paragraph-306347" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">rates</span>, terms, and conditions for such agreement shall be just and reasonable, cost-based, nondiscriminatory, and competitively neutral, and shall comply with all applicable state and federal <span class="dictionary">laws</span>. However, <span class="dictionary">rates</span> for <span class="dictionary">attachments</span> to government-owned buildings may be based on fair market value. <a id="paragraph-306348" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> For <span class="dictionary">utility poles</span> owned by a locality or the Commonwealth that support aerial cables used for video, communications, or electric service, the parties shall comply with the process for make-ready work under 47 U.S.C. &#xA7; 224 and implementing regulations. The good faith estimate of the government entity owning or controlling the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> for any make-ready work necessary to enable the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> to support the requested <span class="dictionary">co-location</span> shall include pole replacement if necessary. <a id="paragraph-306349" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> For <span class="dictionary">utility poles</span> owned by a locality or the Commonwealth that do not support aerial cables used for video, communications, or electric service, the government entity owning or controlling the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> shall provide a good faith estimate for any make-ready work necessary to enable the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> to support the requested <span class="dictionary">co-location</span>, including pole replacement, if necessary, within 60 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 <span class="dictionary">wireless services provider</span> or a <span class="dictionary">wireless infrastructure provider</span>. <a id="paragraph-306350" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The government entity owning or controlling the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> shall not require more make-ready work than required to meet applicable codes or industry standards. Charges for make-ready work, including any pole replacement, shall not exceed actual costs or the amount charged to other <span class="dictionary">wireless services providers</span>, providers of telecommunications services, and nonpublic providers of cable television and electric services for similar work and shall not include consultants&#x2019; fees or expenses. <a id="paragraph-306351" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The annual recurring <span class="dictionary">rate</span> to <span class="dictionary">co-locate</span> a <span class="dictionary">small cell facility</span> on a government-owned <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> shall not exceed the actual, direct, and reasonable costs related to the <span class="dictionary">wireless services provider</span>&#x2019;s or <span class="dictionary">wireless infrastructure provider</span>&#x2019;s use of space on the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span>. In any controversy concerning the appropriateness of the <span class="dictionary">rate</span>, the government entity owning or controlling the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> shall have the burden of proving that the <span class="dictionary">rates</span> are reasonably related to the actual, direct, and reasonable costs incurred for use of space on the <span class="dictionary">utility pole</span> for such period. <a id="paragraph-306352" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> This section shall not apply to <span class="dictionary">utility poles</span>, structures, or property of an electric utility owned or operated by a <span class="dictionary">municipality</span> or other political subdivision. <a id="paragraph-306353" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-484.31/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2017, c. 835.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
