Section 191.15 | Applicant agreement before receiving reimbursement.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Before receiving a program reimbursement under the Ohio broadband pole replacement and undergrounding program, each applicant shall agree to do the following:

(1) Not later than ninety days after receipt of a program reimbursement, activate qualifying broadband service to end users utilizing the broadband infrastructure for which the applicant has received reimbursement for pole replacement, mid-span pole installation, or undergrounding costs;

(2) Certify the application's compliance with the requirements of sections 191.10 to 191.24 of the Revised Code;

(3) Comply with any federal requirements associated with the funding used by the broadband expansion program authority in connection with the award;

(4) Refund all or any portion of reimbursements received under the program as specified in section 191.30 of the Revised Code, if pursuant to that section the applicant is found to have materially violated any of the requirements of sections 191.10 to 191.24 of the Revised Code.

(B) For an application regarding a pole replacement or mid-span pole installation, the applicant shall do the following if the applicant is the pole owner, or affiliate of the pole owner:

(1) Comply with division (A) of this section;

(2) Commit that the pole owner will comply with all applicable pole attachment regulations and requirements imposed by the state or federal government;

(3) Commit that the pole owner will exclude from its costs used to calculate its rates or charges for access to its utility poles for which the applicant has been reimbursed as follows:

(a) Under the Ohio broadband pole replacement and undergrounding program or any other broadband grant program;

(b) By a provider, for make-ready charges;

(4)(a) Commit that the pole owner will maintain and make available, upon reasonable request, to the department of development or to a party subject to the rates and charges described in division (B)(3) of this section, accounting documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with division (B)(3) of this section;

(b) Division (B)(4)(a) of this section does not apply to an electric distribution utility as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code, unless the electric distribution utility is the applicant.

Last updated August 29, 2023 at 4:36 PM

Available Versions of this Section

• October 3, 2023 – Enacted by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly