§31H-1-1. Legislative findings.

(a) The deployment of reliable small wireless facilities and other next generation wireless and broadband network technology is a matter of statewide concern and critical to the continued economic development and diversification in the state of West Virginia.

(b) Small wireless facilities are critical to delivering wireless access to advanced technology, broadband, and 911 services to homes, businesses, and schools throughout the state of West Virginia.

(c) Because of the integral role that the delivery of broadband and wireless technology plays in the economic vitality of the state of West Virginia and in the lives of its citizens, the Legislature has determined that a law addressing the further deployment of wireless technology is of vital interest to the state.

(d) Small wireless facilities, including facilities commonly referred to as small cells and distributed antenna systems, may often be deployed most effectively in public rights-of-way.

(e) To meet the key objectives of this chapter, wireless providers must have access to certain public rights-of-way and the ability to attach or collocate on existing infrastructure that will permit these providers to offer next generation wireless and broadband technology.

(f) To ensure that public and private West Virginia consumers may benefit from these services as soon as possible and to ensure that providers of wireless access have a fair and predictable process for the deployment of small wireless facilities in a manner consistent with the character of the area in which the small wireless facilities are deployed, the Legislature is enacting this chapter, which specifies the regulatory authority for the collocation of small wireless facilities.