JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Nixon today signed four bills passed by the General Assembly related to telecommunications – Senate Bills 649, 650, 651 and 653. Many of the provisions contained in the bills were found in a telecommunications bill enacted in 2013 but enjoined by the Cole County Circuit Court due to defects in their enactment, in violation of the Missouri Constitution.
Senate Bill 649 and Senate Bill 653 address management of public rights-of-way and utility pole access; Senate Bill 650 places parameters around the wireless approval process to encourage more timely investment in broadband expansion and wireless service improvement; and Senate Bill 651 addresses immunity for telecommunications companies in emergency situations.
