Why I should join PROTEC!
29 years ago, a group of Michigan municipalities, together with the leadership of the Michigan Municipal League (MML), determined that there was a need to form a special consortium of communities for the purpose of focusing on the various issues affecting our Rights of Way (ROW). The immediate concerns at that time included efforts by the telecommunications industry to access our ROW with little or no local regulation - and for free, without covering even actual costs to the community, let alone market-based rents. PROTEC fought hard on these issues and changed the original direction of the Metro Act from imposing free ROW access, to now generating $30 Million Annually for all Michigan Municipalities.
Several years later, PROTEC led the charge on opposing PA 480, The Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act. Both these Acts ended far better than they started, owing in no small part, to PROTEC’s contribution to the local community team, and pressing for fair market value fees and local control.
When a couple years ago, AT&T unilaterally and arbitrarily cut several million dollars from their Metro Act Fee payments, it was PROTEC alone that objected and fought through that issue until AT&T recanted their position and paid the balance owed. When the wireless industry claimed a 12-year-old regulation allowed wireless facilities in our ROW for free and unregulated, it was PROTEC alone that successfully challenged that regulation and had it terminated. We then fought the notorious Small Cell Act and nearly defeated it, alone.
Today, we continue to lead Michigan communities in addressing that same telecom industry, as well as opposing proposals such as ITC’s 150 foot electric transmission towers and lines right down community main streets, as well as the ROW inroads being attempted by the pipeline industry.
PROTEC has a proud history of close collaboration with our local community partners including MML, MTA, MAC, CRA, CWW, CEW, GVMC, NATOA, The Alliance, The Washington based Pipeline Safety Trust and Telecommunity, and many more partners across Michigan and the Country, on these complex and increasingly demanding industry demands.
Even now, we are working to stop reduction in video/cable franchise revenues and are opposing the Video Streaming industry effort to claim a formal exemption to video service regulation and franchise fees under PA 480. As part of that, we are developing plans to modernize telecom ROW access as many states and neighboring countries are doing the same.
So, our need is great. Meanwhile, the current issues in Washington at the FCC and Congress are potentially very destructive of our ROW interests. PROTEC is tracking and coordinating responses to these efforts with our local and national partners. That effort alone is a full time job, all of which we do without staff or office expense.
We need you, your community and your support now more than ever. If you receive free updates from PROTEC that you find helpful, if you receive all your Metro Act Funds, if you receive all your Cable franchise and/or PEG fees today, understand all those benefits come directly and in no small measure, as a result of the dues paying members of PROTEC. – JOIN US WON'T YOU?