Kansas Legislature Holds Special Committee On Telecommunications To Discuss Telecom Legal Issues Ahead Of 2026 Legislative Session
November 21, 2025 – The Kansas legislature held a one-day Special Committee on Telecommunications to discuss telecommunications legal issues and regulatory requirements. Some of the issues that were discussed during the committee meeting may be tackled during the upcoming 2026 legislative session.
The Special Committee on Telecommunications was streamed live and is available for viewing on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel. Written testimony is available online. The bipartisan special committee consisted of the following seven Senators and seven Representatives:
Senators: Michael Fagg (Vice Chair); Elaine Bowers; Craig Bowser; Joseph Claeys; Marci Francisco; Mike Petersen; Kellie Warren
Representatives: Leo Delperdang (Chair); Emil Bergquist; Lauren Bohi; Marty Long ; Lynn Melton; KC Ohaebosim; Rick Wilborn
The committee and witnesses discussed the following telecommunications issues: use of the public rights-of-way; Kansas franchise law; franchise fees paid by communications providers; regulation of broadband service; placing communications infrastructure under railroad tracks; eligible telecommunications carrier designation and relinquishment requirements; processes and costs of moving communications infrastructure; Kansas Corporation Commission regulatory duties; and other related issues. The committee heard testimony from the following six witnesses:
Janet Buchanan, Deputy Director of Utilities, Kansas Corporation Commission
Megan Bottenberg, Director of Government Affairs, COX Communications
Dayton Murty, Senior Manager of Government Affairs, Charter Communications
Erik Sartorius, Executive Director, Communications Coalition of Kansas
Jim Jamison, President, AT&T Kansas
Ethan Kaplan, General Counsel, IdeaTek
