S481 - Fund Small Businesses/Department of Revenue Rulings/City Rights of Way. (SL 2016-103)

Overview: Part III of S.L. 2016-103 prohibits a city from imposing a fee on telecommunications, video programming, electricity, or gas utilities for activities conducted in the city's right-of-way, unless the city's right-of-way management expenses related to these activities exceed distributions to the city of sales tax from the utilities' customers. Payments under G.S. 62-350 for pole attachments are not affected.

The prohibition on cities charging fees for utilities' use of right-of-way becomes effective July 1, 2017, and during the period July 22, 2016, through July 1, 2017, cities may charge fees not exceeding fees in effect as of June 1, 2016.