HILLIARD, Ohio — Hilliard City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Jan. 13 supporting the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge to a tariff amendment filed by Ohio Bell Telephone Company (AT&T) at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

City staff told council the tariff amendment would let the company charge municipalities for the cost of relocating or undergrounding utility lines — a change from current practice. A staff presenter said the resolution was initiated at the request of the Ohio Municipal League to gather municipal support for intervening before the PUCO.

A staff explanation read at the meeting said, “This resolution was initiated at the request of the Ohio Municipal League due to a filing of a tariff amendment by, Ohio Bell Telephone Company, which is AT and T. Tariff before the Public Utilities Commission is the term they use to establish their rules of operating and, charging fees. And what they have requested is a change that would allow them to charge back the costs of relocating an undergrounding lines to the requesting municipality, which is contrary to today's current practice.”

Vice President Andy Teeter, drawing on experience as a utility relocation coordinator, explained how right-of-way and easement arrangements typically work. Teeter said, “If they're in a private easement that they paid for then we are required or the municipality is required to pay for them to relocate it. But if they're in our easements, our right of way, then that charge is on them.” Teeter added that the tariff amendment appeared to expand the list of items the company could charge back to municipalities.

City staff cautioned that municipalities’ leverage is limited by state right-of-way rules and that new contractual rights can be pursued only when opportunities arise.

Council voted by roll call: Cynthia Vermillion, Andy Teeter, Tina Catone, [Mister] Carrier, Greg Betts and Emily Cole all voted yes. The resolution passed 6–0 and is effective “at the earliest date allowable by law,” according to the meeting record.

In addition to the resolution, the council approved one consent-agenda item (24R01) by voice vote earlier in the meeting; the consent item passed and was certified without separate discussion.

The resolution directs the city to join municipal peers in supporting intervention at the PUCO; no additional city appropriation or ordinance was approved at the meeting. Council did not specify follow-up steps or a timeline for any further legal or contractual action on the matter during the Jan. 13 session.