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Minutes for HB2586 - Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
Short Title
Requiring revenues received by telecommunications service providers for the provision of broadband services to be calculated when determining gross receipts under a city franchise.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 3, 2026
Vice Chairman Wilborn opened the hearing on HB2586.
Nick Myers, Office of Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment1). Mr. Myers responded to questions from the committee members.
Proponents:
Megan Bottenberg, Cox Communications (Attachment2) explained the goal of the bill would be to update Kansas Law to reflect today's technology with comparable, generally applied compensation by all users of the public Rights-of-Way (ROW). She added the bill would modernize the current statutes to match the variety of options for the public to purchase broadband service and close a loophole that inadvertently creates disproportionate ROW access costs among ROW access users.
Dayton Murty, Charter Communications (Attachment3) stated they do business under the brand name Spectrum and service 100,000 Kansas customers in 25 communities. He explained the intent of the bill would be to require all providers to pay a comparable single fee for access to the ROW, not to levy a fee on both the telecommunications and broadband services of the telecommunications companies. He added Charter would be open to working with concerned parties on an amendment to ensure the important parity issues would be addressed.
Opponents:
Darin Miller, AT&T (Attachment4) opposes the bill while understanding the aim the proponents of the bill would be seeking to address concerning the provisions of broadband services, this legislation is not the approach to take. He added the existing statute is concerned solely with the provision of wholly local telephone service, not broadband service which is an information service and not wholly local. He explained AT&T would work with the industry stakeholders to develop a new, comprehensive statutory regime that addresses the issues holistically, reflecting current technology and the competitive landscape.
Ethan Kaplan, Ideatek Telecom (Attachment5) the bill solves no clear problem, cities already have the tools to negotiate fair compensation for ROW use on a competitively neutral basis. He added the bill invites new franchise taxes onto Kansans' broadband bills while carving our large incumbent cable operators from the same treatment.
Erik Sartorius, Communications Coalition of Kansas (Attachment6) explained the bill makes an attempt at reform, but he feels it increases confusion and tilts the competitive playing field in a different, uneven way. He add the bill was written in a way that would bring a broadband franchise to many Kansans, but not those subscribing to cable services. He is committed to working with industry and others going forward to identify reforms that are fair to all providers.
Neutral:
John Goodyear, The League of Kansas Municipalities (Attachment7) appreciates all the work on the bill that represents a meaningful step toward addressing disparities in the current framework. However, the League believes additional refinements would better align the bill with its stated goal of creating a more level and equitable regulatory environment. He added the League stands ready to work collaboratively with the bill's proponents, committee and other stakeholders to identify amendments that more fully accomplish that objective while preserving local authority and ensuring fair treatment across providers.
Conferees responded to questions from the committee members.
WRITTEN ONLY TESTIMONY:
Bob Gallimore, City of Olathe (Attachment8)
City of Wichita (Attachment9)
City of Overland Park (Attachment10)
Vice Chairman Wilborn closed the hearing on HB2586.
Vice Chair announced the next committee meeting would be Thursday, February 5 and adjourned the meeting at 10:07am.
