Commitment by U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management t...
Commitment by U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to consult with Congress on fiber right-of-way (RoW) policies indicates “significant rethinking” of how agencies intend to change land valuation methods governing access to public lands, group of telecom…
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and energy interests said. Forest Service and BLM officials recently met with aides to Sens. Burns (R-Mont.) and Craig (R-Ida.) to offer estimated time frame for revision of land access policies, TelROW Coalition spokesman said. Burns and Craig last month (CD April 13 p1) expressed concern, shared by coalition, that policy changes, if made without appropriate public consultation, would significantly increase utility infrastructure costs and deter fiber network deployment. Sen. Smith (R-Ore.) separately raised concerns (CD April 17 p7) that changes in RoW assessments “without a formal and public rulemaking” would violate 2001 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Forest Service and BLM in May 4 letter to Burns and Craig said they were collecting market data on RoW fees and intended to: (1) Publish advance notice by Sept. 2001 acknowledging their intent to issue revised regulations. (2) Form federal advisory committee by early 2002 to develop RoW policy proposal. (3) Solicit public comment by March 2003. (4) Publish final rule by Sept. 2003. TelROW spokesman said group remained concerned that agencies would use market data gleaned during proceeding to support position that increases in RoW assessments were justified and necessary.