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Christopher K. Miller <br />May 22,2005 <br />Page 2 <br />utilityiindustry to place its fiber optics cable in City-owned conduit actually, in our opinion, <br />depends on the usage, or potential usage of the fiber optics cable. <br />Minnesota Statute § 237.163 sets forth the statutory authorization and requirements for <br />use and regulation of the public right-of-way with respect to telecommunications right-of-way <br />users. By definition, telecommunications right-of-way users are those persons or entities <br />"owning or controlling a facility in the public right-of-way, or seeking to own or control a <br />facility in the public right-of-way, that is used or is intended to be used for transporting <br />telecommunications or other voice or data information." Minn. Stat. § 237.162, subd. 4. <br />Minnesota Statute § 237.163, subd. 2(b} grants local government units the authority to <br />manage its public rights-of-way pursuant to this section, if it so chooses. The City of Roseville <br />has chosen to exercise the statutory authority granted by the Minnesota legislature under Minn. <br />Stat. §§ 237.162-.163. ���: Roseville City Ordinance § 7D7.Q�(B). The Roseville City <br />Ordinance Chapter 707.02 generally mirrors the statutory definition of a telecommunications <br />right-of-way user. <br />Minnesota Statute � 237.163 gives the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission {"P�JC") <br />the authority to develop and adopt statewide construction standards to ensure the safe and <br />convenient use of the public rights-of-way. Minn. Stat. § 237.163, subd. S{a}. The PUC has <br />done so in the form of Minnesota Rule Chapter 7819. Local government units are prohibited <br />from adopting any ordinance or other regulation that conflicts with a standard adopted by the <br />PUC for the terms and conditions of right-of-way construction, excavation, maintenance, and <br />repair, or the terms and conditions under which telecommunications facilities and equipment <br />are placed in the public right-of-way. Minn. Stat. § 237.163, subd. 8(c}. <br />As part of the statewide construction standards, the PUC has promulgated a rule that <br />permits local government units to establish "high-density corridors" by ordinance. A"high- <br />density corridor" is defined as "a designated portion of the public right-of-way within which <br />telecommunications right-of-way users having multiple and competing facilities may be <br />required to build and install facilities in a common conduit system or other common structure." <br />Minn. R. 7819.0100, subp. 11. This appears to reflect the concept envisioned by the City of <br />Roseville. <br />Pursuant to Minnesota Rule part 7819.0200, an ordinance establishing the procedure for <br />installing a high-density corridor must meet the following standards: <br />A. The ordinance must provide for competitive neutrality among <br />telecommunications right-of-way users. <br />