Amends existing law to revise provisions about the dig once policy and rights-of-way for broadband.

This legislation updates and amends Idaho’s Dig Once Policy by expanding its application to single county-wide highway districts formed pursuant to chapter 14, title 40 Idaho Code. Expanding Idaho’s Dig Once Policy will further encourage the cost-efficient, orderly, and coordinated expansion of broadband services by requiring the districts to consider the appropriateness of including the installation of broadband infrastructure during roadway construction and maintenance projects. Additionally, requiring districts to develop nondiscriminatory and competitively neutral rules, standards, and policies consistent with Idaho’s Dig Once Policy encourages further investment in broadband infrastructure by reducing installation costs and providing service providers with a fair, transparent, and predictable process. This update to Idaho’s Dig Once Policy yields greater efficiency and coordination between utilities, broadband service providers, and transportation agencies to minimize the number of times roadways must be cut and therefore closed for construction. Finally, this legislation protects the long-term integrity and performance of roadways by standardizing the construction specifications and installation methods used to deploy broadband facilities within the public ROW of state or district highways.