Existing law imposes various duties on local agencies relating to construction and property within its jurisdiction, including by requiring local agencies with jurisdiction to approve excavations to allow microtrenching, as defined, for the installation of underground fiber if the installation in the microtrench is limited to fiber, except as provided. Existing law requires, during the project planning phase of certain department-led construction projects, the Department of Transportation to notify companies and organizations working on broadband deployment of the project on its internet website to encourage collaborative broadband installations.

This bill would require, prior to commencing any local agency-led excavation projects, as defined, a city, county, or city and county to notify interested parties of the project on its internet website to encourage collaborative installations of important utilities and infrastructure, including, but not limited to, fiber optic cable, undergrounding utilities, or other important services. By imposing additional duties on cities and counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.