MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY
by Director Jerry Wray Tuesday, July 1, 1997 1:00 p.m. at the Statehouse in Room 109
INTRODUCTION:
WE'RE HERE TO MAKE HISTORY TODAY. WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE SIGNING OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S FIRST MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA SITES.
WE HAVE MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS HERE TODAY INCLUDING:
LEADERS FROM THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WHO HELPED TO MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE.
THIS UNIQUE PROJECT IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND THE STATE. IT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COOPERATION OF THE OHIO LEGISLATURE AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
BACKGROUND:
THE CATALYST FOR THIS PROJECT WAS THE FEDERAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996. IT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR:
INCREASED COMPETITION & REDUCED REGULATION
AND FAIR & REASONABLE COMPENSATION FROM TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS FOR THE USE OF RIGHTS OF WAY.
IN RESPONSE TO WIRELESS INDUSTRY REQUESTS, ODOT APPOINTED A STEERING COMMITTEE IN LATE 1996 TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF SITING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURES ON ODOT PROPERTY. THE RESULT WAS A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PRODUCE LEGISLATION TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY.
THE NEW LEGISLATION ALLOWED ODOT TO ENTER INTO LICENSE AGREEMENTS WITH TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE SITING OF ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURES ON ODOT PROPERTY. IT PROVIDES LICENSE REVENUE FOR ODOT'S HIGHWAY OPERATING FUND, AND FREE ACCESS FOR THE STATE OF OHIO'S RADIO SYSTEM, ODOT'S INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, AND THE STATE'S NEW MULTI-AGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR GEORGE V. VOINOVICH ON MARCH 31, 1997. IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE TODAY, JULY 1, 1997.
MEANWHILE, OUR TASK FORCE HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY TO PROPOSE AND IDENTIFY WORKABLE PILOT SITES.
THESE SITES WILL SERVE AS MODELS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TYPICAL INSTALLATIONS AT LOCATIONS WITHIN HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE IN-FIELDS, DISTRICT OFFICES, REST AREAS, OUTPOSTS, AND ALONG RIGHT OF WAYS. SOME OF THESE PILOT SITES WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION THIS MONTH. THE THIRD MAJOR GOAL OF THE TASK FORCE WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT WE PLAN TO SIGN TODAY WITH THE WIRELESS INDUSTRY. THIS AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW US TO USE KEY HIGHWAY CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO SERVE THE COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
THE AGREEMENT INCORPORATES A FEE SCHEDULE WHICH LETS THE INDUSTRY EASILY DETERMINE THE FEES FOR A SITE.
THE MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT WE ARE SIGNING TODAY IS THE RESULT OF EXTENSIVE REVIEW AND COMMENT BY INDUSTRY, STATE, AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS.
THE BENEFITS ARE:
KEY ACCESS FOR INDUSTRY: THE TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO KEY TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES THROUGHOUT OHIO FOR EITHER FILLING IN COMMUNICATION GAPS OR ESTABLISHING NEW NETWORKS. THIS CAN BE DONE IN A ONE- STOP-SHOP FASHION.
USING ODOT PROPERTY ALONG HIGHWAY CORRIDORS WILL BE LESS AESTHETICALLY INTRUSIVE THAN IN OTHER POSSIBLE LOCATIONS AND WILL PROVIDE FOR UNINTERRUPTED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE FOR THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
ODOT WILL RECEIVE ANNUAL REVENUE RANGING FROM $8,000 TO $22,000 PER SITE. THIS REVENUE WILL GO TOWARD THE MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC:
TOWERS WILL BE BUILT WITH CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE ODOT RADIO ANTENNAS FOR COMMUNICATION WITH SNOW AND MAINTENANCE CREWS.
THE STATE'S NEW MULTI AGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (MARCS) WHICH SERVES FOURTEEN STATE AGENCIES INCLUDING THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOWERS.
THE INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN OUR MAJOR CITIES WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE TOWERS, ALLOWING BETTER TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
CO-LOCATION, OR SHARING THE SPACE ON THE TOWERS PROVIDES A WIN-WIN FOR THE INDUSTRY, FOR ODOT, AND THE PUBLIC: UNDER THE AGREEMENT, CARRIERS MUST NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH WITH ANY THIRD PARTY INTERESTED IN CO-LOCATING ON THE ANTENNA STRUCTURE. THIS WILL SERVE TO MAXIMIZE STRUCTURE USE AND REDUCE THE PROLIFERATION OF ADDITIONAL TOWERS.
IT WAS ESTIMATED IT WOULD TAKE BETWEEN 12 TO 18 MONTHS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT LIKE THIS IN OHIO. HOWEVER, THANKS TO THE COOPERATION OF ALL THOSE PRESENT IN THIS ROOM, WE'VE MOVED THROUGH A COMPLEX PROCESS IN 10 MONTHS. THAT SHOWS WHAT CAN BE DONE BY PEOPLE WITH DETERMINATION AND A COMMON GOAL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR A JOB WELL DONE.