Concerns Raised by Kentucky Telecom Association Over Proposed Dig Law Changes
Kentucky Telecom Association expresses concerns over proposed changes to dig law, citing potential delays in locate request times, lack of accuracy requirements, and impacts on broadband deployment in rural areas. The association highlights issues with the new definition of unlocatable facilities and the possible increase in time for completing locate requests. These changes could hinder infrastructure projects and increase costs for broadband expansion in Kentucky.
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Presentation Transcript
Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy November 18, 2020 Tyler Campbell Executive Director
Kentucky Telecom Association Concerns with New Dig Law Proposal New definition of untonable/unlocatable facilities serves to increase locate request times beyond all of Kentucky s surrounding states. All of Kentucky s surrounding states and most states throughout the U.S. require locate requests to be completed within 2-3 working days.
Kentucky Telecom Association Concerns with New Dig Law Proposal Normal locate requests deemed untonable/unlocatable would increase from current 2 working days to 5 working days. Large project requests deemed untonable/unlocatable would increase from current 5 working days to 8 working days. *(Based on last year s version of the 811 bill draft. KTA has not seen the version for 2021 GA at time of preparing presentation.)*
Examples of Locate Request Times from Neighboring States
Kentucky Telecom Association Concerns with New Dig Law Proposal There is no accuracy requirement associated with the new dig law proposal. Accuracy is already a problem for nonmetallic facilities. Current law states nonmetallic facilities without metallic tracer wire must be located as accurately as possible based on field location records. This results in a wide interpretation of the current law and current practices to locate these facilities. Without any type of accuracy requirement in the new dig law proposal, operators will have longer than any of KY s surrounding states to try and locate their underground facilities, and many will still not be able to locate these facilities any more accurately than today. This does not improve on the problems with KY s existing dig law.
Kentucky Telecom Association Concerns with New Dig Law Proposal The demand for broadband deployment has never been higher and Kentucky s rural broadband providers continually work to expand broadband deployment in their rural communities. Additional delays in locate request times in rural areas will result in delays to future fiber construction projects and will serve to drive up the cost of broadband deployment.
QUESTIONS? Tyler Campbell Executive Director Kentucky Telecom Association 305 Ann Street, Ste 202 Frankfort, KY 40601 502.699.2206
