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v FREDR11;SON & BYRON, P.A. Attomeys At law Cable Television Franchising Authorities and Other Interested Persons February 16, 1996 Page 6 compensation for access to pole space. Further, the Act ensures that telecommunication providers will have access to existing rights-of-way conduits, poles and other facilities owned by utilities. III. General Comments. The Telecommunications'.Act of 1996 will provide both challenges and opportunities for local government.- As technologies continue to develop and converge, both state and federal governments will be involved in ongoing rule making. Technological change will outpace regulations. ' It will be an enormous job for those operating at all levels of government to keep track of the changes and to develop legislation and rules that protect the public interest. Local government needs to 'be involved both in influencing rules that affect local communities, and also in' recognizing areas in which the FCC may forbear from regulation, allowing state and local laws and rules to become effective without fear of preemption. There should be local involvement in telecommunications planning both • initially, as rules are first.adopted, and on an ongoing oversight basis. A major objective for any municipality should be to retain local control over the public rights-of-way to protect citizens and enhance the quality of life for its residents. To monitor telecommunications providers .who provide services to municipal residents through the public rights-of-way, municipal governments should consider implementing ordinances or resolutions that govern these providers in a uniform and consistent way. We have already begun, at the request of many clients, to develop guidelines and suggested regulatory ordinances to help implement the new Telecommunications Act of 1996. We would be glad to talk with you about your needs, and encourage you to begin telecommunications planning today. 502271 •