Public Comment. Volume III - Montana Legislature
Public Comment. Volume III - Montana Legislature
Public Comment. Volume III - Montana Legislature
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mlt~ <strong>Montana</strong> Independent Telecommunications Systems<br />
January 19, 2000<br />
Environmental Quality Council<br />
Eminent Domain Subcommittee Chairman, Senator Cole<br />
P. 0. Box 201704<br />
Helena, MT 59620-1704<br />
Dear Senator Cole,<br />
Re: January 20, 2000 Eminent Domain Subcommittee Meeting<br />
I apologize for being unable to attend your subcommittee<br />
meeting scheduled for January 20th. I have a preciously scheduled<br />
Board of Directors meeting in another state.<br />
My organization represents rural telephone cooperatives and<br />
independent telephone companies operating across rural <strong>Montana</strong>. I<br />
would like to briefly outline a few of our concerns so that they<br />
can be considered by your subcommittee as part of their<br />
deliberations.<br />
With the growth of the Internet and the increasing importance<br />
of data in our information-based economy, we have experienced<br />
dramatically increased pressures to expand and upgrade our<br />
telecommunications network. In particular, there is growing<br />
demand for fiber optics and the services that can be carried over<br />
fiber optics networks<br />
Because these networks are placed underground and because the<br />
placement causes very little disturbance to the use or appearance<br />
of the land, we have rarely had to resort to condemnation<br />
proceedings involving our friends and neighbors residing in<br />
<strong>Montana</strong>. Our problems have primarily been with folks whose<br />
primary residence is out-of-state but own land in <strong>Montana</strong> for<br />
recreational or other proposes.<br />
In an increasing number of cases these folks have hindered<br />
our efforts to bring high speed Internet and data access to the<br />
schools, libraries and businesses of the small and very small<br />
communities in <strong>Montana</strong>. These folks either absolutely refuse to<br />
allow our facilities or demand such exorbitant amounts for rightof-way<br />
that we could never hope to recover the costs of building<br />
our network because we would have to charge more than they could<br />
Pay.<br />
2021 1 lCh Avenue, Suite 12 P. 0. Box 5237 Helena, MT 59604<br />
(406) 443- 1940 (Voice) (406) 443-2880 (Fax) mits@ixi.net (e-mail)<br />
EQC Eminent Domain Study -73-
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