SB 405 — Wireless communications infrastructure; zoning.

"Wireless infrastructure provider" means any person that builds or installs transmission equipment, wireless facilities, or wireless support structures, but that is not a wireless services provider.

"Wireless services" means (i) "personal wireless services" as defined in 47 U.S.C.

§ 332(c)(7)(C)(i);

(ii) "personal wireless service facilities" as defined in 47 U.S.C.

§ 332(c)(7)(C)(ii), including commercial mobile services as defined in 47 U.S.C.

§ 332(d), provided to personal mobile communication devices through wireless facilities;

and (iii) any other fixed or mobile wireless service, using licensed or unlicensed spectrum, provided using wireless facilities.

"Wireless services provider" means a provider of wireless services.

"Wireless support structure" means a freestanding structure, such as a monopole, tower, either guyed or self-supporting, or suitable existing structure or alternative structure designed to support or capable of supporting wireless facilities.

"Wireless support structure" does not include any telephone or electrical utility pole or any tower used for the distribution or transmission of electrical service.

§ 15.2-2316.4:1.

Zoning;

other wireless facilities and wireless support structures.

A.

A locality shall not require that a special exception, special use permit, or variance be obtained for the installation or construction of an administrative review-eligible project but may require administrative review for the issuance of any zoning permit, or an acknowledgement that zoning approval is not required, for such a project.

B.

A locality may charge a reasonable fee for each application submitted under subsection A or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project.

The fee shall not include direct payment or reimbursement of third-party fees charged on a contingency basis or a result-based arrangement.

Upon request, a locality shall provide the applicant with the cost basis for the fee.

A locality shall not charge market-based or value-based fees for the processing of an application.

If the application is for:

1.

An administrative review-eligible project, the fee shall not exceed $500;

and 2.

A standard process project, the fee shall not exceed the actual direct costs to process the application, including permits and inspection.

C.

The processing of any application submitted under subsection A or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project shall be subject to the following:

1.

Within 10 business days after receiving an incomplete application, the locality shall notify the applicant that the application is incomplete.

The notice shall specify any additional information required to complete the application.

The notice shall be sent by electronic mail to the applicant's email address provided in the application.

If the locality fails to provide such notice within such 10-day period, the application shall be deemed complete.

2.

Except as provided in subdivision 3, a locality shall approve or disapprove a complete application:

a.

For a new structure within the lesser of 150 days of receipt of the completed application or the period required by federal law for such approval or disapproval;

or b.

For the co-location of any wireless facility that is not a small cell facility within the lesser of 90 days of receipt of the completed application or the period required by federal law for such approval or disapproval, unless the application constitutes an eligible facilities request as defined in 47 U.S.C.

§ 1455(a).

3.

Any period specified in subdivision 2 for a locality to approve or disapprove an application may be extended by mutual agreement between the applicant and the locality.

D.

A complete application for a project shall be deemed approved if the locality fails to approve or disapprove the application within the applicable period specified in subdivision C 2 or any agreed extension thereof pursuant to subdivision C 3.

E.

If a locality disapproves an application submitted under subsection A or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project:

1.

The locality shall provide the applicant with a written statement of the reasons for such disapproval;

and 2.

If the locality is aware of any modifications to the project as described in the application that if made would permit the locality to approve the proposed project, the locality shall identify them in the written statement provided under subdivision 1.

The locality's subsequent disapproval of an application for a project that incorporates the modifications identified in such a statement may be used by the applicant as evidence that the locality's subsequent disapproval was arbitrary or capricious in any appeal of the locality's action.

F.

A locality's action on disapproval of an application submitted under subsection A or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project shall:

1.

Not unreasonably discriminate between the applicant and other wireless services providers, wireless infrastructure providers, providers of telecommunications services, and nonpublic providers of cable television and electric services;

and 2.

Be supported by substantial record evidence contained in a written record publicly released within 30 days following the disapproval.

G.

An applicant adversely affected by the disapproval of an application submitted under subsection A or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project may file an appeal pursuant to subsection F of § 15.2-2285, or to § 15.2-2314 if the requested zoning approval involves a variance, within 30 days following delivery to the applicant or notice to the applicant of the record described in subdivision F 2.

§ 15.2-2316.4:2.

Application reviews.

A.

In its receiving, consideration, and processing of a complete application submitted under subsection A of § 15.2-2316.4:1 or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project, a locality shall not:

1.

Disapprove an application on the basis of:

a.

The applicant's business decision with respect to its designed service, customer demand for service, or quality of its service to or from a particular site;

b.

The applicant's specific need for the project, including the applicant's desire to provide additional wireless coverage or capacity;

or c.

The wireless facility technology selected by the applicant for use at the project;

2.

Require an applicant to provide proprietary, confidential, or other business information to justify the need for the project, including propagation maps and telecommunications traffic studies, or information reviewed by a federal agency as part of the approval process for the same structure and wireless facility, provided that a locality may require an applicant to provide a copy of any approval granted by a federal agency, including conditions imposed by that agency;

3.

Require the removal of existing wireless support structures or wireless facilities, wherever located, as a condition for approval of an application.

A locality may adopt reasonable rules with respect to the removal of abandoned wireless support structures or wireless facilities;

4.

Impose surety requirements, including bonds, escrow deposits, letters of credit, or any other types of financial surety, to ensure that abandoned or unused wireless facilities can be removed, unless the locality imposes similar requirements on other permits for other types of similar commercial development.

Any such instrument shall not exceed a reasonable estimate of the direct cost of the removal of the wireless facilities;

5.

Discriminate or create a preference on the basis of the ownership, including ownership by the locality, of any property, structure, base station, or wireless support structure, when promulgating rules or procedures for siting wireless facilities or for evaluating applications;

6.

Impose any unreasonable requirements or obligations regarding the presentation or appearance of a project, including unreasonable requirements relating to (i) the kinds of materials used or (ii) the arranging, screening, or landscaping of wireless facilities or wireless structures;

7.

Impose any requirement that an applicant purchase, subscribe to, use, or employ facilities, networks, or services owned, provided, or operated by a locality, in whole or in part, or by any entity in which a locality has a competitive, economic, financial, governance, or other interest;

8.

Condition or require the approval of an application on the basis of the applicant's agreement to allow any wireless facilities provided or operated, in whole or in part, by a locality or by any other entity, to be placed at or co-located with the applicant's project;

9.

Impose a setback or fall zone requirement for a project that is larger than a setback or fall zone area that is imposed on other types of similar structures of a similar size, including utility poles;

10.

Limit the duration of the approval of an application, except a locality may require that construction of the approved project shall commence within two years of final approval and be diligently pursued to completion;

or 11.

Require an applicant to perform services unrelated to the project described in the application, including restoration work on any surface not disturbed by the applicant's project.

B.

Nothing in this article shall prohibit a locality from disapproving an application submitted under subsection A of § 15.2-2316.4:1 or for any zoning approval required for a standard process project:

1.

On the basis of the fact that the proposed height of any wireless support structure, wireless facility, or wireless support structure with attached wireless facilities exceeds 50 feet above ground level, provided that the locality follows a local ordinance or regulation that does not unreasonably discriminate between the applicant and other wireless services providers, wireless infrastructure providers, providers of telecommunications services, and nonpublic providers of cable television and electric services;

or 2.

That proposes to locate a new structure, or to co-locate a wireless facility, in an area where all cable and public utility facilities are required to be placed underground by a date certain or encouraged to be undergrounded as part of a transportation improvement project or rezoning proceeding as set forth in objectives contained in a comprehensive plan, if:

a.

The undergrounding requirement or comprehensive plan objective existed at least three months prior to the submission of the application;

b.

The locality allows the co-location of wireless facilities on existing utility poles, government-owned structures with the government's consent, existing wireless support structures, or a building within that area;

c.

The locality allows the replacement of existing utility poles and wireless support structures with poles or support structures of the same size or smaller within that area;

and d.

The disapproval of the application does not unreasonably discriminate between the applicant and other wireless services providers, wireless infrastructure providers, providers of telecommunications services, and nonpublic providers of cable television and electric services.

C.

Nothing in this article shall prohibit an applicant from voluntarily submitting, and the locality from accepting, any conditions that otherwise address potential visual or aesthetic effects resulting from the placement of a new structure or facility.

D.

Nothing in this article shall prohibit a locality from disapproving an application submitted under a standard process project on the basis of the availability of existing wireless support structures within a reasonable distance that could be used for co-location at reasonable terms and conditions without imposing technical limitations on the applicant.

§ 15.2-2316.4:3.

Additional provisions.

A.

A locality shall not require zoning approval for (i) routine maintenance or (ii) the replacement of wireless facilities or wireless support structures within a six-foot perimeter with wireless facilities or wireless support structures that are substantially similar or the same size or smaller.

However, a locality may require a permit to work within the right-of-way for the activities described in clause (i) or (ii), if applicable.

B.

Nothing in this article shall prohibit a locality from limiting the number of new structures or the number of wireless facilities that can be installed in a specific location.

2.

That any publicly-owned or privately-owned wireless service provider operating within the Commonwealth or serving residents of the Commonwealth shall, by January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2025, provide to the Department of Housing and Community Development a report detailing by county, city, and town enhanced service capacity in previously served areas and expansion of service in previously unserved geographic areas that are provided access to wireless services.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department shall maintain the confidentiality of company-specific data but may publicly release aggregate data.