2. In general, prohibits a political subdivision from exercising authority over
the design, engineering, construction, installation, or operation of any small wireless
facility located inside or on the site of any campus, stadium, or athletic facility not
owned or controlled by the political subdivision.
3. Limits regulatory authority over the placement or operation of
communications facilities in a ROW by entities authorized to operate in the ROW on
the bill's effective date or by the wireless provider affiliates of such entities.
4. Provides a mechanism for political subdivisions to allow the placement of a
small wireless facility or wireless support structure at a temporary rate pending the
resolution of a ROW dispute.
Indemnification
In general, the bill requires a wireless provider to indemnify and hold harmless
a political subdivision for any liability and loss from personal injury or property
damage that results from the use or occupancy of ROW by the wireless provider, and

requires a wireless provider to waive any claims it may have against a political
subdivision with respect to damages, however caused, based on the theory of liability.
Setback requirements for a mobile service support structure
Generally, under current law, a political subdivision may not impose a setback
requirement for a mobile service support structure. This bill grants a political
subdivision limited authority to impose a setback requirement on the placement of
such a structure with regard to new or substantially modified structures. Under the
bill, a requirement could apply only to a structure that is constructed on land that
is zoned for only single-family residential use or on adjacent land. In addition, the
setback requirement must be based on the height of the proposed structure, and the
requirement may not exceed the height of the proposed structure. The bill also
provides, however, that a setback requirement does not apply to an existing or new
utility pole, or wireless support structure that supports small wireless facilities, if
the pole or facility meets the height limitations specified in the bill for such a pole
or facility.
Also under the bill, a political subdivision must allow a setback of a proposed
mobile service support structure that is less than the height of the structure if all
property owners of lots zoned for only single-family residential use, located within
a radius of three times the height of the structure, consent to such placement.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB425,1 1Section 1. 66.0404 (4e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB425,5,62 66.0404 (4e) Setback requirements. (a) Notwithstanding sub. (4) (r), and
3subject to the provisions of this subsection, a political subdivision may enact an
4ordinance imposing setback requirements related to the placement of a mobile
5service support structure that applies to new construction or the substantial
6modification of facilities and support structures, as described in sub. (2).
SB425,6,27 (b) A setback requirement may apply only to a mobile service support structure
8that is constructed on or adjacent to a parcel of land that is subject to a zoning
9ordinance that permits only single-family residential use on that parcel. A setback
10requirement does not apply to an existing or new utility pole, or wireless support

1structure in a right-of-way that supports a small wireless facility, if the pole or
2facility meets the height limitations in s. 66.0414 (2) (e) 2. and 3.
SB425,6,63 (c) The setback requirement under par. (b) for a mobile service support
4structure on a parcel shall be measured from the lot lines of other adjacent and
5non-adjacent parcels zoned for only single-family residential use or for which only
6single-family residential use is a permitted use.
SB425,6,107 (d) A setback requirement must be based on the height of the proposed mobile
8service support structure, and the setback requirement may not be a distance that
9is greater than the height of the proposed structure and, subject to par. (e), may be
10a distance that is less than the height of the proposed structure.
SB425,6,1511 (e) A political subdivision shall allow a setback of a proposed mobile service
12support structure that is less than the height of the proposed structure if all property
13owners of lots that are zoned for only single-family residential use, that are located
14within a radius of 3 times the height of the proposed structure, consent in writing to
15such placement of the proposed structure.
SB425,2 16Section 2. 66.0414 of the statutes is created to read:
SB425,6,17 1766.0414 Small wireless facilities. (1) Definitions. In this section:
SB425,6,1918 (a) “Antenna” means communications equipment that transmits and receives
19electromagnetic radio signals and is used in the provision of wireless services.
SB425,6,2520 (b) “Applicable codes” means the state electrical wiring code, as defined in s.
21101.80 (4), the state plumbing code specified in s. 145.13, the fire prevention code
22under ch. SPS 314, Wis. adm. code, the Wisconsin commercial building code under
23chs. SPS 361 to 366, the Wisconsin uniform dwelling code under chs. SPS 320 to 325,
24and local amendments to those codes enacted solely to address imminent threats of
25destruction of property or injury to persons.
SB425,7,1
1(c) “Applicant” means a wireless provider that submits an application.
SB425,7,42 (d) “Application” means an application for a permit under this section to
3collocate a small wireless facility or to install or modify a utility pole or wireless
4support structure.
SB425,7,75 (e) “Collocate” or “collocation” means the placement, mounting, replacement,
6modification, operation, or maintenance of a wireless facility on or adjacent to a
7wireless support structure or utility pole.
SB425,7,108 (f) “Communications service provider” means a cable operator, as defined in 47
9USC 522
(5); a provider of information service, as defined in 47 USC 153 (24); a
10telecommunications carrier, as defined in 47 USC 153 (51); or a wireless provider.
SB425,7,1111 (g) “Fee” means a one-time charge.
SB425,7,1512 (h) “Governmental pole” means a utility pole that is owned or operated by the
13state or by a political subdivision in a right-of-way, and a pole or similar structure
14owned or operated by the state or a political subdivision in a right-of-way that
15supports only wireless facilities.
SB425,7,1916 (i) “Investor-owned electric utility” means a public utility whose purpose is the
17generation, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of electric power but does not
18include a public utility owned and operated wholly by a municipality or a cooperative
19association organized under ch. 185.
SB425,7,2220 (j) “Microwireless facility” means a small wireless facility that does not exceed
2124 inches in length, 15 inches in width, and 12 inches in height and that has no
22exterior antenna longer than 11 inches.
SB425,7,2423 (k) “Permit” means written authorization required by the state or a political
24subdivision to perform an action, or initiate, continue, or complete a project.
SB425,7,2525 (L) “Political subdivision” means any city, village, town, or county.
SB425,8,1
1(m) “Rate” means a recurring charge.
SB425,8,72 (n) “Right-of-way” means the area on, below, or above a highway, as defined
3in s. 340.01 (22), other than a federal interstate highway; sidewalk; utility easement,
4other than a utility easement for a cooperative association organized under ch. 185
5for purposes of providing or furnishing heat, light, power, or water to its members
6only; or other similar property, including property owned or controlled by the
7department of transportation.
SB425,8,98 (o) “Small wireless facility” means a wireless facility to which all of the
9following apply:
SB425,8,1210 1. Each antenna is located inside an enclosure of no more than 6 cubic feet or,
11in the case of an antenna that has exposed elements, the antenna and all of its
12exposed elements could fit within an enclosure of no more than 6 cubic feet.
SB425,8,1813 2. All other wireless equipment associated with the facility is cumulatively no
14more than 28 cubic feet, except that when calculating the allowable volume for
15purposes of this subdivision, an electric meter, concealment elements, a
16telecommunications demarcation box, a ground-based enclosure, a power transfer
17switch, and vertical cable runs for the connection of power and other services may
18not be included.
SB425,8,2219 (p) “Utility pole” means a structure that is used in whole or in part by a
20communications service provider or for electric distribution, lighting, traffic control,
21signage, or a similar function but does not include a structure that supports only a
22wireless facility.
SB425,9,223 (q) “Utility pole for designated services” means a utility pole owned or operated
24in a right-of-way by the state, a political subdivision, or a utility district that is

1designed to, or used to, carry electric distribution lines, or cables or wires for
2telecommunications, cable, or electric service.
SB425,9,73 (r) “Wireless facility” means equipment at a fixed location that enables wireless
4service between user equipment and a wireless network, not including the structure
5or improvements on, under, or within which the equipment is collocated. “ Wireless
6facility” includes a small wireless facility. “Wireless facility” does not include any of
7the following:
SB425,9,88 1. A wireline backhaul facility.
SB425,9,119 2. Coaxial or fiber-optic cable between utility poles or wireless support
10structures or otherwise not immediately adjacent to or directly associated with a
11particular antenna.
SB425,9,1412 (s) “Wireless infrastructure provider” means any person, other than a wireless
13services provider, that builds or installs wireless communication transmission
14equipment, wireless facilities, or wireless support structures.
SB425,9,1615 (t) “Wireless provider” means a wireless infrastructure provider or a wireless
16services provider.
SB425,9,1917 (u) “Wireless services” means any service using licensed or unlicensed wireless
18spectrum, including the use of a Wi-Fi network, whether at a fixed location or by
19means of a mobile device, that is provided using wireless facilities.
SB425,9,2120 (v) “Wireless services provider” means any person who provides wireless
21services.
SB425,9,2422 (w) “Wireless support structure” means an existing pole or other freestanding
23structure, other than a utility pole, that is designed to support, or capable of
24supporting, wireless facilities.
SB425,10,2
1(x) “Wireline backhaul facility” means a facility for providing wireline backhaul
2service.
SB425,10,43 (y) “Wireline backhaul service” means the transport of communications
4services by wire from wireless facilities to a network.
SB425,10,6 5(2) Rights-of-way. (a) Applicability. This subsection applies only to the
6activities of a wireless provider within a right-of-way.
SB425,10,107 (b) Exclusive use prohibited. Neither the state nor a political subdivision may
8enter into an exclusive arrangement with any person for the use of a right-of-way
9for the construction, operation, marketing, maintenance, or collocation of small
10wireless facilities or wireless support structures.
SB425,10,1711 (c) Rates and fees. The state or a political subdivision may charge a wireless
12provider a rate or fee for the use a right-of-way with respect to the construction or
13collocation of a small wireless facility or wireless support structure in the
14right-of-way only if the state or political subdivision charges other communications
15service providers or utilities for the use of the right-of-way. If the state or a political
16subdivision charges a wireless provider a rate or fee as described in this paragraph,
17all of the following apply:
SB425,10,1918 1. Subject to subd. 5., the fee or rate must be limited to no more than the direct
19and actual cost of managing the right-of-way.
SB425,10,2120 2. Except as provided in par. (d), the fee or rate must be competitively neutral
21with regard to other users of the right-of-way.
SB425,10,2422 3. The fee or rate may not result in a double recovery by the state or political
23subdivision if existing fees, rates, or taxes already recover the direct and actual cost
24of managing the right-of-way.
SB425,11,2
14. The fee or rate may not be in the form of a franchise or other fee based on
2revenue or customer counts.
SB425,11,63 5. The fee or rate may not exceed an annual amount equal to $20 multiplied
4by the number of utility poles or wireless support structures in the state's or political
5subdivision's geographic jurisdiction on which the wireless provider has collocated
6a small wireless facility antenna.
SB425,11,127 (d) Rate or fee adjustment. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., by the later of the
8first day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision ....
9[LRB inserts date], or 3 months after receiving its first request for access to the
10right-of-way by a wireless provider, the state or a political subdivision shall make
11available, through ordinance or otherwise, rates, fees, and terms for such access that
12comply with this subsection.
SB425,11,1913 2. Agreements between a wireless provider and the state or a political
14subdivision that are in effect on the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts
15date], and that relate to access to the right-of-way, remain in effect, subject to
16applicable termination provisions, except that by the first day of the 25th month
17beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], the state
18or political subdivision shall amend any such agreement to comply with the rates,
19fees, and terms required under this subsection.
SB425,12,620 (e) Right of access. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subs.
21(3) (c) 4. and (4), and notwithstanding ss. 182.017 and 196.58 and any zoning
22ordinance enacted by a political subdivision under s. 59.69, 60.61, or 62.23, a wireless
23provider shall have the right to collocate small wireless facilities and construct,
24modify, maintain, and operate utility poles, wireless support structures, conduit,
25cable, and related appurtenances and facilities along, across, upon, and under a

1right-of-way. Such facilities and structures may not obstruct or hinder travel,
2drainage, maintenance, or the public health, safety, and general welfare on or around
3the right-of-way, or obstruct the legal use of the right-of-way for other
4communications providers, public utilities, cooperative associations organized
5under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power, or water
6to their members only, or pipes or pipelines transmitting liquid manure.
SB425,12,87 2. Except as provided in subd. 4., the height of a utility pole or wireless support
8structure installed, or modified, in a right-of-way may not exceed the greater of:
SB425,12,119 a. Ten feet above the tallest existing utility pole that is in place on the effective
10date of this subd. 2. a. .... [LRB inserts date], and that is located within 500 feet of
11the new or modified pole or structure in the same right-of-way.
SB425,12,1212 b. Fifty feet above ground level.
SB425,12,1413 3. The height of a small wireless facility installed, or modified, in a
14right-of-way may not exceed the greater of:
SB425,12,1715 a. Ten feet above the tallest existing utility pole or wireless support structure
16that is in place on the effective date of this subd. 3. a. .... [LRB inserts date], and that
17is located in the same right-of-way.
SB425,12,1818 b. The maximum height described in subd. 2. b.
SB425,12,2319 4. A wireless provider may construct, modify, and maintain a utility pole,
20wireless support structure, or small wireless facility along, across, upon, and under
21a right-of-way that exceeds the height limits in this paragraph if the wireless
22provider complies with height limits under the zoning ordinances enacted by a
23political subdivision under s. 59.69, 60.61, or 62.23.
SB425,13,524 5. With regard to the rights of a wireless provider to construct small wireless
25facilities or modify utility poles, wireless support structures, conduit, cable, and

1related appurtenances and facilities as described in subd. 1., a political subdivision
2may propose an alternate location within 50 feet of the proposed location, which the
3wireless provider shall use if it has the right to use the alternate structure on
4reasonable terms and conditions and the alternate location does not impose technical
5limits or additional costs, as determined by the wireless provider.
SB425,13,156 (f) Damage and repair. The state or a political subdivision may require a
7wireless provider to repair all damage that is directly caused by the activities of the
8wireless provider in a right-of-way involving its small wireless facilities, wireless
9support structures, or utility poles, and to return the right-of-way to its former
10condition before it was so damaged. If the wireless provider fails to make the
11required repairs within a reasonable amount of time after receiving a written
12request to do so from the state or a political subdivision, the state or political
13subdivision may make the necessary repairs and charge the liable party for the cost
14of the repairs. This paragraph does not prohibit a political subdivision from
15recovering damages under s. 86.02.
SB425,13,1816 (g) Nondiscrimination. The state and political subdivisions must administer
17and regulate a right-of-way in a competitively neutral manner with regard to all
18users of the right-of-way.
SB425,13,23 19(3) Collocation of small wireless facilities. (a) Applicability. This
20subsection applies to the activities of a wireless provider both within and outside a
21right-of-way. Except as provided in this subsection and in subs. (2) and (4), neither
22the state nor a political subdivision may prohibit, regulate, or charge any person for
23the collocation of small wireless facilities.
SB425,14,324 (b) Zoning. Notwithstanding an ordinance enacted under s. 59.69, 60.61, or
2562.23, and except as provided in par. (c) 4., small wireless facilities shall be classified

1as permitted uses and are not subject to a political subdivision's zoning ordinances
2if they are collocated in a right-of-way or outside a right-of-way if the property is
3not zoned exclusively for single-family residential use.
SB425,14,94 (c) Permits. 1. Subject to subd. 3., the state or a political subdivision may
5require an application for a permit to collocate a small wireless facility and to
6construct, modify, maintain, or operate a new or replacement utility pole or wireless
7support structure, provided such permit is of general applicability and does not apply
8exclusively to wireless facilities. All of the following apply to such permit
9applications filed by an applicant:
SB425,14,1110 a. Neither the state nor a political subdivision may require an applicant to
11perform services unrelated to the collocation for which approval is sought.
SB425,14,1512 b. Neither the state nor a political subdivision may require an applicant that
13is a wireless provider to provide more information in its permit application than such
14a governmental unit requires from a communications service provider that is not a
15wireless provider and that applies for the same type of permit.
SB425,14,1816 c. The state or a political subdivision shall notify an applicant in writing, within
1710 days of receiving the application, whether it is complete. If it is incomplete, the
18state or political subdivision shall specify why the application is incomplete.
SB425,14,2219 d. Except as provided in subd. 1. g., if a permit application involves a new utility
20pole or wireless support structure, and the state or a political subdivision fails to
21approve or deny the permit application under this section not later than 90 days after
22its receipt, the applicant may consider its permit application approved.
SB425,15,323 e. Except as provided in subd. 1. g., if a permit application proposes to collocate
24small wireless facilities to an existing utility pole or wireless support structure, or
25replace an existing utility pole or wireless support structure, and the state or a

1political subdivision fails to approve or deny the permit application under this
2section not later than 60 days after its receipt, the applicant may consider its permit
3application approved.
SB425,15,84 f. Except as provided in subd. 1. g., if there is any type of construction, building,
5or encroachment permit required by a political subdivision that relates to a permit
6under subd. 1. d. or e., and the political subdivision fails to approve or deny that
7permit application within the specified 60-day or 90-day time frame, the applicant
8may consider its permit application approved.
SB425,15,119 g. The applicant and the state or political subdivision may mutually agree to
10extend the deadline for the state or political subdivision to approve or deny a permit
11application under subd. 1. d., e., or f.
SB425,15,2012 h. Subject to subd. 1. i., the state or a political subdivision shall approve a
13permit application unless it does not meet the applicable codes. If the permit
14application is denied for this reason, the state or political subdivision shall provide
15the applicant with written documentation explaining the basis for the denial no later
16than the date that the permit application is denied. An applicant may cure the
17deficiencies identified in the documentation and resubmit the permit application no
18later than 30 days after receipt of the documentation without being required to pay
19an additional application fee. The state or a political subdivision shall approve or
20deny the revised permit application not later than 30 days after its receipt.
SB425,15,2421 i. The state or a political subdivision may condition approval of a permit on
22compliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory relocation, abandonment, or
23bonding requirements that are consistent with state law applicable to other
24occupiers of rights-of-way.
SB425,16,9
1j. An applicant may file a consolidated permit application to collocate up to 30
2small wireless facilities, or a greater number if agreed to by a political subdivision,
3provided that all the small wireless facilities in the application consist of
4substantially similar equipment and are to be placed on similar types of wireless
5support structures. In rendering a decision on a consolidated permit application, a
6political subdivision may approve a permit for some small wireless facilities and
7deny a permit for others, but the political subdivision may not use the denial of one
8or more permits as a basis to deny permits for all of the small wireless facilities in
9the application.
SB425,16,1510 k. If an applicant's permit application is approved, the applicant shall
11commence the activity authorized by the permit no later than 365 days after its
12receipt and shall pursue work on the activity until completion. Neither the state nor
13a political subdivision may place any time limitation on an applicant that is related
14to the permit. An applicant may request that the state or a political subdivision
15terminate the applicant's permit.
SB425,16,1716 2. Neither the state nor a political subdivision may institute a moratorium on
17any of the following:
SB425,16,1818 a. The filing, receiving, or processing of applications.
SB425,16,2019 b. The issuance of permits or other approvals for the collocation of small
20wireless facilities.
SB425,16,2421 3. An approval under this section authorizes only the installation, placement,
22maintenance, or operation of a small wireless facility to provide wireless service and
23does not authorize the provision of any other service or the installation, placement,
24maintenance, or operation of wireline backhaul service in a right-of-way.
SB425,17,12
14. A political subdivision may enact an ordinance to prohibit, in a
2nondiscriminatory way, a communications service provider from installing
3structures in the right-of-way of a historic district or an underground district,
4except that the ordinance may not prohibit collocations or the replacement of existing
5structures. In this subdivision, a historic district is an area designated as historic
6by the political subdivision, listed on the national register of historic places in
7Wisconsin, or listed on the state register of historic places. In this subdivision, an
8underground district is an area designated by the political subdivision in which any
9pipe, pipeline, duct, wire, line, conduit, or other equipment, which is used for the
10transmission, distribution, or delivery of electrical power, heat, water, gas, sewer, or
11telecommunications equipment, is located underground. This subdivision applies
12only to ordinances enacted on or before January 1, 2014.
Loading...
Loading...