(a) Beginning on July 1, 2020, the Department of Administration shall coordinate with the executive to issue a request for proposals to manage state-owned vertical real estate. This request for proposals shall contain at a minimum the following information from each prospective manager:
(1) A standard method for valuation of space on each tower that is reasonable and customary for the reach of and the numbers of the population served by the vertical real estate.
(2) A clause which forbids any vendor to enter into an exclusive arrangement with any person for the right to use the vertical real estate, unless no other entity is interested, and a clause which forbids the sharing of information, backhaul, or any other resources gleaned from managing the assets competitively with any competitors.
(3) A clause forbidding the vendor from engaging in any preferential treatment to their own operations as a competing provider of wireless broadband access.
(4) A minimum of 50 percent rental reduction for any entity whose utilization of that vertical real estate is providing broadband access which is rate unlimited or unthrottled; subject to current load/demand network management.
(b) There is hereby created in the state treasury a special account to be known as the Technology Infrastructure Reinvestment Fund to be administered by the Office of Technology. All revenue derived from the management of the vertical real estate shall be deposited into the fund pursuant to 31G-5-3 of this code. Expenditures from the fund shall be made by the Office of Technology for the purpose of reinvestment in the vertical real estate or technology infrastructure supporting broadband on state-owned property. Expenditures are not authorized from collections but are to be made in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of 12-3-1, et seq. of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions of 11B-2-1, et seq. of this code.
(c) The Office of Technology shall remit to the manager the compensation as per the contract and then on June 30 each year shall distribute any funds received in excess of the compensation due the manager as follows:
(1) Fifty percent to the Technology Infrastructure Reinvestment Fund,
(2) Fifty percent will go to the Broadband Expansion Fund established in 31G-1-5 of this code in control of the Broadband Enhancement Council with the specific purpose of:
(A) Funding the ongoing operations of the Broadband Enhancement Council, and
(B) To provide funds to match federal grants.
(d) Counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions, as applicable, may join or participate in an awarded agreement with a successful manager under the same terms and conditions: Provided, That distribution of funds attributable to their assets may be expended at the discretion of their governing body.
Structure West Virginia Code