HB810 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Wireless communications, collocation and modification of wireless facilities by local governing authorities, application process, Advanced Broadband Collocation Act

Summary

HB810 creates a streamlined, time-bound process for local governments to review and approve collocation or modification of wireless facilities to support broadband deployment, while limiting new zoning requirements.

What This Bill Does

The act establishes the Advanced Broadband Collocation Act to set procedural standards for local authorities reviewing applications to collocate or modify wireless facilities. It requires review for site plan, building permits, safety, and existing zoning conformance, but it aims to avoid new zoning approvals beyond what was already granted. It sets a 90-day deadline to decide complete applications, with a 30-day notice to request missing information, and allows information time to not delay the 90-day period. It restricts modifications to not increase height, width, footprint, or load and may require engineering certification, while limiting the review to safety and permit conformity and not requiring non-safety service analyses.

Who It Affects

• Local governing authorities (cities/counties): must apply streamlined review standards and make a final decision within 90 days for complete applications.
• Wireless service providers/applicants: may collocate or modify on existing structures with fewer zoning hurdles, subject to height/width/weight limits and safety conditions.
• Structural engineers: may be required to provide structural calculations certifying load limits and to support engineering requirements.
• Radio frequency (RF) engineers: may supply certification that proposed facilities will not interfere with emergency communications; RF analyses of service characteristics are generally not required.

Key Provisions

• Section 2 establishes the purpose to streamline and encourage modification or collocation of wireless facilities to deploy broadband and advanced wireless services.
• Section 3 defines terms such as accessory equipment, antenna, application, collocation, equipment compound, local governing authority, modification, wireless facility, and wireless support structure.
• Section 4(a) requires applications to be reviewed for conformance with site plans, building permits, safety, and zoning, but not subject to new zoning approvals beyond initial permits.
• Section 4(b) sets requirements for collocation/modification: no increases in height/width or load; no expansion of the equipment footprint; must comply with existing approval conditions and weight limits with a licensed engineer's calculations.
• Section 4(c) allows limited review to focus on safety; prohibits requiring non-safety-related technical or business analyses; may require an RF engineer letter certifying no interference.
• Section 4(d) mandates a final decision within 90 days of a complete application, with 30 days for notifying missing information; extra time for information does not count toward the 90 days.
• Section 5 repeals conflicting laws to the extent of conflict.
• Section 6 makes the act effective upon passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Telecommunications