Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes conservation easements to allow for broadband development in West Virginia.

Highlights:

• Prohibits conservation easement holders from unreasonably stopping the installation of telecommunications facilities, including any cable, line, fiber, wire, conduit, innerduct, handhole or pedestal that is used to transmit, receive, produce, or distribute a signal for telecommunications purposes via wireline, electronic, or optical means, which does not adversely affect the conservation values of protected property (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that nothing in this section shall prohibit a broadband provider offering telephone and other communications services from exercising their existing eminent domain rights as a public use (Sec. 1)

• Specifies that permission for conservation easement can be affected by a conservation plan which addresses both location and depth of the fiber optic installation, or through a court action where the easements have already been recorded, where permission to install is prohibited by existing conservation easement language (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text