Council advances fee schedule to cover fiber, cabinets and other right-of-way infrastructure in first reading

Fall River City Council passed a motion on first reading to amend the city's right-of-way fee schedule so it explicitly covers cable, fiber, cabinets and related equipment in the public right of way.

Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey and Dan Aguiar, the city's director of engineering and planning, told the council the draft language mostly folds fiber and cabinet charges into an existing fee schedule rather than creating a wholly new ordinance. "I think having fiber Internet in the city will be a great thing for the city of Fall River," Rumsey said, and added the proposal was developed after reviewing other municipalities and consulting staff who have been working with providers.

The amendment adds language to the fee schedule under the existing reference given in the meeting as Section A110-1, Chapter 2 Administration, Fees 2-453, subsection 26 to include "cable, wire, fiber, and cabinets." It also creates a daily accrual fee for unused or abandoned poles and cabinets and extends…