The City of Portland has updated its Right-of-Way (ROW) code to improve efficiency for both industry partners and the government. The change, passed by the City Council on Wednesday last week, allows wireless providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to access the ROW through a single, uniform license, as per a City of Portland release.
Andrew Speer, Franchise Utility Program Manager at Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), led the collaboration with wireless industry representatives to tailor the changes. The updates clarify how fees will be recovered from businesses using the ROW in two main areas: construction and traffic control, and access to the ROW.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is responsible for collecting fees related to construction permits and traffic control, as well as ROW management fees for licensing agreements. BPS manages fees for ROW access, which grants companies the rights to install and maintain infrastructure in the city-owned ROW.
The ROW Code update began in 2020 with a two-phase approach. The first phase involved creating a ROW Code for all industries except wireless providers. After receiving feedback from wireless companies and analyzing fees for small wireless facilities, the City Council proceeded to phase two, which includes wireless service providers in the updated code and fee schedule, ensuring they are subject to the same rules as other industries.
The update process in Portland included input from industry partners, helping the city refine its access regulations. This collaboration aims to make the process more equitable and transparent, and aligns with Portland's approach to balancing industry needs and public resource management.
