Planning & Inspections

Telecommunications Facilities

El Paso, TX Telecommunications FacilitiesThe City of El Paso must manage the use of different telecommunications towers, and devices that are established. Rules must be followed to ensure fair use and safety in Personal Wireless Service Facilities and Telecommunications Facilities on the Right-of-Way (ROW).

What is Senate Bill (SB) 1004 and when was it enacted?

SB 1004 establishes Chapter 284 Deployment of Network Nodes in Public Right-of-Way to Establish Guidelines, Procedures, and a Design Manual Governing Network Providers' Access to Public Right-of-Way of the Local Government Code and standardizes the municipal permitting process for the deployment of network nodes across Texas. It grants access to Public ROW to network providers subject to permitting requirements and payment to cities.

SB 1004 was enacted on September 1, 2017, and allows network providers to deploy facilities on Public ROW in line with Chapter 284 and Chapter 15.10. for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City.

When a company wants to place network objects, SB 1004 sets a standard for:

  • When a permit is required
  • Installation and Construction
  • Size Restrictions
  • Location Restrictions where above-ground structures in a ROW are prohibited
  • Permitting Process and Shot Clock
  • Fees for Access to Public ROW
  • Access to Municipally-Owned Poles

Application Submittal

  • Online submittal through Citizen Access Portal. (Note that when ready to issue, pro-rated rental rates will be due and may be paid through the Citizen Access Portal. These fees will be billed on January 1 thereafter).
  • Non-refundable application fee is due at the time of application submittal.
  • For collocation purposes, a Master License Agreement must be executed as a precondition of application submittal.
  • Node Support Pole*

*Includes the "drop and swap" method of municipally owned power poles.

Provider Requirements

Provider will be billed every January 1st and shall maintain and submit an annual inventory of Network Nodes and Node Support Poles connected by Transport Facilities and collocated Network Nodes.
This includes complete and accurate GIS location information, maps, plans, equipment, and other records related to provider facilities. 

 

Network Node

Completeness Check:
The City must review applications for completeness and notify the application for its determination within 30 days.

Review Period:
The City must approve or deny the permitting within 60 days, counted from when the City received a complete application.

Permit Issuance:

  • Monthly pro-rated payment of annual rental rate is due prior to permit issuance.
  • Provider is billed every January 1 thereafter.
  • Permit expires 6 months after permit issuance if installation has not begun by that date.
  • Inspections will be required during installation.

Permit Fees:

  • $500 for up to 5 nodes; $250 for each additional node.
  • A maximum of 30 nodes may be included in each application.
  • Payment will be made through the Citizen Access Portal.

Annual Rental Fees:
$250 annually per Network Node site, with an annual adjustment.

Transport Facility

Completeness Check:
City must review applications for completeness and notify the application for its determination within 10 days via email.

Review Period:
The City must approve or deny the permitting within 21 days, counted from when the City received a complete application.

Permit Issuance:

  • Monthly pro-rated payment of annual rental rate is due prior to permit issuance.
  • Provider is billed every January 1 thereafter.
  • Permit expires 6 months after permit issuance if installation has not begun by that date.
  • Inspections will be required during installation.

Permit Fees:

  • $500 for up to 5 nodes; $250 for each additional node.
  • A maximum of 30 nodes may be included in each application.
  • Payment will be made through the Citizen Access Portal.

Annual Rental Fees:
$28 monthly per Network Node site, not to exceed the network provider’s monthly aggregate Network Node Rental Rate.

Node Support Pole

Completeness Check:
City must review applications for completeness and notify the application for its determination within 30 days.

Review Period:
The City must approve or deny the permitting within 150 days, counted from when the City received a complete application.

Permit Issuance:

  • Monthly pro-rated payment of annual rental rate is due prior to permit issuance.
  • Provider is billed every January 1 thereafter.
  • Permit expires 6 months after permit issuance if installation has not begun by that date.
  • Inspections will be required during installation.

Permit Fees:

Annual Rental Fees:
$20 annually per service pole.