Opinion ID: 1248911
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Questions from the House of Representatives)

Text: 1. Whether the Metropolitan Extension Telecommunications Rights-of-Way Oversight Authority may constitutionally require a permit, under Section 5 of 2002 PA 48, and assess an annual maintenance fee, under Section 8 of 2002 PA 48, on all telecommunications providers in Michigan, including those providers that assert preexisting franchise rights under 1883 PA 129. 2. Whether the Metropolitan Extension Telecommunications Rights-of-Way Oversight Authority, as established and empowered under Section 3 of 2002 PA 48, is duly constituted as a metropolitan authority under Article VII, Section 27 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. 3. Whether the creation of an authority under Article VII, Section 27 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 possessing the powers and duties provided for in 2002 PA 48 is a constitutional exercise of the Legislature's powers consistent with Article VII, Section 29 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. 4. Whether the annual maintenance fee required to be paid by telecommunications providers under the provisions of 2002 PA 48 to recover the costs and in consideration of the right to use public rights-ofway constitutes a valid fee that is not prohibited from being imposed without voter approval by Article IX, Section 31 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963.