FLORIDA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE-CROSS-APPELLANT,
v.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT-CROSS-APPELLEE
FAY, Circuit Judge: This appeal presents primarily three questions: (1) whether the Florida Public Service Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of pay phones located on private property under section 364.01, Florida Statutes; (2) whether a municipality has jurisdiction to regulate pay phones located in the public rights-of-way under section 364.01, Florida Statutes; and (3) if a municipality can regulate pay phones located in the public rights-of-way, then what constitutes a reasonable and non-discriminatory regulation related thereto.
We agree with the district court’s decision granting summary judgment in favor of the City of Miami Beach as to the city’s jurisdiction to regulate pay phones located in the public rights-of-way. Specifically, we affirm the district court’s decision that all of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (except for 8(d)), 11, 12, 13, 15, 16-20 and 9(a)-(e)(6) of Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 95-3005, as amended by Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 96-3041, are reasonable and non-discriminatory, and necessary for the management of pay phones within the public rights-of-way. We also find that all of sections5, 10, and 14 of Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 95-3005 are not within the limits of the law as pertaining to the city’s regulation of pay phones.
However, we disagree with the district court’s decision that subsection 9(e)(7) of Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 95-3005 concerning the regulation of advertising on pay phones in the public rights-of-way was not within the city’s jurisdiction. In addition, we find that section 8(d) of Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 95-3005, concerning criminal activities in the areas of pay phones installations and in public rights-of-way is not proper.
In sum, we conclude that the City of Miami Beach may regulate advertising on pay phones located in the public rights-of-way and consequently, that subsection 9(e)(7) of Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 95-3005 is valid and proper under the law. Lastly, we agree with the district court’s decision that Florida state law preempts Miami Beach, Fla. Am. Ordinances 89-2665 §§ 6-21(B)(2)(d) and 89-2665 6-21(B)(4)(c) and consequently the Florida Public Service Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of pay phones located on private property.
Thus, we AFFIRM in part and REVERSE in part the district court’s judgment.
I.
Background Appellant and Cross-Appellee, the City of Miami Beach (“Miami Beach”), enacted zoning ordinances in an effort to restrict and to regulate pay phones located on private and public property within the city. Miami Beach enacted these zoning ordinances with the dual purpose of protecting the city’s unique aesthetic qualities as well as ensuring public safety. The zoning ordinances involved in this appeal are Miami Beach, Fla. Am. Ordinances 89-2665 §§ 6-21(B)(2)(d) and 89-2665 6-21(B)(4)(c) (collectively the “Zoning Ordinance”) and Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 95-3005, as amended by Miami Beach, Fla. Ordinance 96-3041 (“RighNof-Way Ordinance”).
The Zoning Ordinance concerns the regulation of pay phones located on private property whereas the RighNof-Way Ordinance concerns the regulation of pay phones located in the public rights-of-way. In relevant sections, the RighL-of-Way Ordinance sets forth a series of requirements: Section 4 requires pay phone operators to obtain a permit; Section5 requires compensation for the issuance of the permit; Section7 dictates the grounds for an operator’s use of streets and sidewalks; Section8 governs the location and placement of the pay phones; Section 9 covers the installation, maintenance, and technical requirements; Section 10 subjects existing pay phones to a retroactive permit fee; Section 11 requires operators to take out bonds to cover potential damage; Section 12 requires indemnity insurance; Section 13 reserves Miami Beach’s police power; and Section 14 limits transfers, assignments and subleases. §§ 4-13. Appellee and Cross-Appellant, Florida Public Telecommunications Association, Inc. (“FPTA”), an association of pay phone vendors in Florida, challenged Miami Beach’s Zoning Ordinance and RighNof-Way Ordinance on the grounds that they were preempted by state and federal law as well as the United States and Florida Constitutions. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment.
The district court granted summary judgment to Miami Beach in part and to FPTA in part. Miami Beach appeals the district court’s findings of preemption and the unreasonableness of subsection 9(e)(7) of the Right-of-Way Ordinance and FPTA cross-appeals the district court’s findings of non-preemption and the validity of certain sections of the Right-of-Way Ordinance. Miami Beach also appeals the district court’s decision that the Florida Public Service Commission (“FPSC”) has exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of pay phones located on private property. FPTA appeals the district court’s decision that a municipality has jurisdiction to regulate telecommunications companies’ facilities, including pay phones located in the public rights-of-way.
The district court concluded that municipalities and counties, retained under Florida state law, the power to manage the “placement or maintenance of facilities” in the public rights-of-way. Fla. Stat. § 337.401(3)(b).
Additionally, the district court found that pay phones are telecommunications companies facilities and their location in the public rights-of-way subjected them to regulation by Miami Beach. In determining whether the regulations in the Right-of-Way Ordinance were permissible, the district court applied a three-prong test as set forth in section 337.401(3)(b), Florida Statutes.
The district court also found that sections5, 10, 14 and subsection 9(e)(7) of the Right-of-Way Ordinance were not permissible exercises of Miami Beach’s authority to regulate the public rights-of-way under Florida state law because section5 was discriminatory and sections 10, 14 and subsection 9(e)(7) were not related to the placement or maintenance of pay phones or necessary to the management of public rights-of-way.
Consequently, those sections of the Righb-of-Way Ordinance were held to be invalid.
The district court concluded that the remaining sections of the RighWof-Way Ordinance were related to the placement or maintenance of pay phones, were reasonable and non-discriminatory, and were necessary to manage the public rights-of-way and thus were valid. Both parties appeal the district court’s decisions regarding the validity of certain sections of the RighWof-Way Ordinance. Both parties agree, however, that the district court applied the correct three-prong test in determining whether sections of the RighWof-Way Ordinance were permissible. FPTA challenges the district court’s findings that certain sections of 2(1) and 6(c) and all of sections 3(a), 7(a), 8(d)-(g), 9(b), 9(d) and 9(e) of the Righb-of-Way Ordinance are related to the placement or maintenance of pay phones and within the city’s authority to regulate. The FPSC also filed an amicus brief arguing that the district court erred in finding that certain sections of the Right-of-Way Ordinance were not preempted by state law. FPSC contends that sections 8(d)-(g), 9(b), 9(d) and 9(e) of the Righb-of-Way Ordinance exceed the scope of the city’s authority to regulate public rights-of-way under its policing power and conflict with the FPSC’s exclusive jurisdiction to regulate telecommunications companies. Miami Beach also appeals the district court’s decision that subsection 9(e)(7) of the Rights-of-Way Ordinance was void because it was not related to the maintenance of pay phones and that the regulation of advertising on pay phones in the public rights-of-way was not within the city’s jurisdiction under state law.
II.
Standard of Review We review de novo the district court’s grant of a motion for summary judgment. Lewis v. Brunswick Carp., 107 F. 3d 1494, 1498 (11th Cir.1997), cert. granted, 522 U.S. 978, 118 S.Ct. 439, 139 L.Ed.2d 337 (1997), cert. dismissed, 523 U.S. 1113, 118 S.Ct. 1793, 140 L.Ed.2d 933 (1998).
III.
Discussion A. Preemption of Miami Beach’s Zoning Ordinance Miami Beach argues that a state agency’s authority to regulate the location of pay phones on private property must be based upon a specific grant of authority by the legislature in the enabling statute which created the agency’s power. The city contends that the Florida Legislature failed to grant the FPSC this explicit power. Miami Beach relies primarily on Southwest Florida Water Management District v. Save the Manatee Club, Inc., 773 So. 2d 594 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000) to support this proposition that the Florida Legislature must specifically grant to the FPSC the authority to regulate the location of pay phones located on private property in the enabling statute. A reading of the enabling statute shows that the Florida Legislature granted to the FPSC broad and exclusive powers to regulate telecommunications companies. Specifically, section 364.01, Florida Statutes grants to FPSC the exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of telecommunications companies within Florida. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. v. Town of Palm Beach, 252 F. 3d 1169, 1177 (11th Cir.2001).
The language of the statute leaves no doubt about the broad and exclusive powers granted to the FPSC to regulate telecommunications companies including their services and facilities.
In contrast, in Southwest Florida Water Management District, the court concluded that the Florida Legislature did not grant to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (the “District”) such broad powers but only very specific and limited powers.
We find no merit in this argument about the extent of the enabling statute in this case. It is also clear that the limitations to this broad authority are very specific. In relevant part, section 364.01(2), Florida Statutes provides that: It is the legislative intent to give exclusive jurisdiction in all matters set forth in this chapter to the Florida Public Service Commission in regulating telecommunications companies, and such preemption shall supersede any local or special act or municipal charter where any conflict of authority may exist.
However, the provisions of this chapter shall not affect the authority and powers granted in s. 166.231(9) or s. 337.401. Since the Florida Legislature granted the FPSC exclusive jurisdiction to regulate telecommunication companies, it clearly has the power to regulate pay phones and their locations on private property within Florida. See Teleco Communications Co. v. Clark, 695 So. 2d 304 (Fla.1997).
We find it unpersuasive to argue that the Florida Legislature should have itemized the powers of the FPSC when it gave it such broad and exclusive authority over telecommunications companies. The only limitation on this exclusive jurisdiction-to regulate telecommunications companies relevant to this case is that municipalities and counties retain the right to manage their roads and public rights-of-way pursuant to their police power.
Section 337.401(3)(b), Florida Statutes, states that “[e]ach municipality and county retains the authority to regulate and manage municipal and county roads or rights-of-way in exercising its police power.” Thus, municipalities’ and counties’ right to regulate their roads and the public rights-of-way allow them to regulate telecommunications companies’ facilities including pay phones located in those spaces. It is undisputed that pay phones are facilities of telecommunications companies as those words are used in the statute.
Thus, as the district court correctly found, the enabling statute broadly granted the FPSC exclusive jurisdiction over all matters except for those involving the management of municipal or county roads and the public rights-of-way.
Consequently, the Miami Beach Zoning Ordinance which regulates pay phones located on private property is preempted in its entirety under Florida state law.
B. Miami Beach’s Right-of-Way Ordinance FPTA argues that Miami Beach does not have the authority to manage telecommunications companies’ facilities in its roads and the public rights-of-way. It claims that the FPSC has exclusive jurisdiction over telecommunications companies which includes the regulation of telecommunications companies’ facilities located on either private or public property.
The district court ruled that the Right-of-Way Ordinance was not preempted by section 364.01(4), Florida Statutes, because Miami Beach as a municipality, was expressly granted the right to regulate facilities located in its roads and the public rights-of-way including telecommunications companies’ facilities.
We agree. As discussed above, under section 364.01(2), Florida Statutes, local governments retain jurisdiction to manage their roads and the public rights-of-way. This jurisdiction includes the right to manage the “placement or maintenance of facilities.” Fla. Stat. § 337.401(3)(b).
In this case, Miami Beach’s Right-of-Way Ordinance only concerns the regulation of pay phones located within the city’s public rights-of-way. Pay phones are clearly facilities, therefore, pay phones located in Miami Beach’s public rights-of-ways are subject to the city’s regulation under section 337.401(b), Florida Statutes. There is no preemption by state law. Although the scope of a municipality’s and county’s jurisdiction to manage its roads and the public rights-of-ways is extremely broad under its policing power, section 337.401, Florida Statutes limits somewhat the authority to regulate telecommunications companies’ facilities. The Florida Legislature set forth three requirements that must be satisfied for a municipality or county to regulate a telecommunications company’s facilities in its roads or the public rights-of-way. In relevant part, section 337.401(3)(b), Florida Statutes, states that: Each municipality and county retains the authority to regulate and manage municipal and county roads or rights-of-way in exercising its police power. Any rules or regulations adopted by a municipality or county which govern the occupation of its roads or rights-of-way by providers of communications services must be related to the placement or maintenance of facilities in such roads or rights-of-way, must be reasonable and nondiscriminatory, and may include only those matters necessary to manage the roads or rights-of-way of the municipality or county.
Therefore, for a regulation over a telecommunications company’s facilities in a municipal and county road or the public rights-of-way to be valid, the regulation must be (1) related to the placement or maintenance of facilities in municipal and county roads or the public rights-of-way; (2) reasonable and non-discriminatory; and (3) necessary to the management of such roads and public rights-of-way. Fla. Stat. § 337.401(b). Since we have already determined that Miami Beach has jurisdiction to regulate pay phones in its roads and the public rights-of-way, the next task for this court is to determine whether the regulations in question meet the requirements of the statute.
We address each relevant section of the RighWof-Way Ordinance in turn.
1.
Section 2(1) — Statement of Purpose FPTA argues that parts of section 2(1) of the Right-of-Way Ordinance are not related to the placement or maintenance of facilities in the public rights-of-way because the regulation of pay phones’ operation, testing and use do not fall within the scope of Miami Beach’s jurisdiction.
The district court concluded that section 2 was not preempted by Florida state law because it provides the foundation for the Right-of-Way Ordinance. FPTA contends the district court erred in concluding that those portions of section 2(1) were not implicated by Florida law because they were beyond Miami Beach’s jurisdiction to regulate.
However, we find no merit in FPTA’s arguments and agree with the district court’s conclusion that section 2 is foundational, states a purpose consistent with the Florida Statutes and, therefore, does not involve any preemption concerns.
2.
Section 3(a) — Definitions Section 3(a) of the Right-of-Way Ordinance states: “(a) ‘Architectural Feature’ shall mean any ornamentation, decorative column, or other significant building detail which represents an important part of the building’s design.” FPTA argues that section 3(a) is not related to the placement or maintenance of pay phones or necessary to manage the public rights-of-way because this section seeks to regulate the design of pay phones. According to FPTA, the design of pay phones does not have any relationship to their placement or maintenance. It claims that the Florida Legislature reserved to FPSC the exclusive jurisdiction to regulate design criteria for pay phones. In response, Miami Beach contends that its definition of architectural features in section 3(a) provides meaning to the Right-of-Way Ordinance and does not itself regulate pay phones.
The district court found that section 3(a) was not preempted by Florida state law.
We agree. Reasonable limitations on the design of pay phones deals directly with a concern for aesthetics.
We agree with the district court’s conclusion that section 3(a) is within the authority of the city and does not raise any preemption concerns.
3.
Section 6(c) — Powers and Duties of City Public Works Director Section 6 of the Right-of-Way Ordinance grants Miami Beach’s Public Works Director the power to either grant or deny an application for a pay phone permit; to make regulations pertaining to applications for pay phone permits; and to make regulations regarding the construction, reconstruction, installation, operation, maintenance, dismantling, testing, repair and use of any pay phones. FPTA argues that the terms in section 6(c) are too broad and ambiguous. FPTA contends that this makes the section beyond the scope of Miami Beach’s limited authority to promulgate reasonable regulations related to the placement or maintenance of facilities in the public rights-of-way. To the contrary, however, we agree with the district court’s findings that all of section 6 is related to the placement or maintenance of facilities in the public rights-of-way, is reasonable and non-discriminatory, and is necessary to manage the public rights-of-way. Certainly, there must be some order in the regulations and some official must be designated to oversee compliance with those regulations. k-Section 7(a) — Use of Streets and Sidewalks Section 7(a) of the RighWof-Way Ordinance set forth requirements that pay phone providers must satisfy prior to installing pay phones and their duties after installation of pay phones with regards to streets and sidewalks as well as other municipal construction projects such as public excavations including installation of sewer lines. FPTA contends that the last sentence of this section grants Miami Beach the authority to deny a pay phone permit even though an applicant has complied with all of the city’s requirements for the issuance of such permit. The last sentence of 7(a) states that “[ajpproval or denial of Pay Telephone permits shall be issued by the Director within sixty (60) working days of Application for said permits.” FPTA claims that section 7(a) grants Miami Beach’s Public Works Director impermissible powers to adopt any format for approval and for denial of any pay phone permit application. In response, Miami Beach contends that the last sentence deals only with an affirmative duty by the Public Works Director to act within a certain time frame in approving or denying a pay phone permit.
We agree. It is patently clear to us that all of section7 is a reasonable regulation related to the placement or maintenance of facilities located in the public rights-of-ways and necessary for the management of the public rights-of-way.
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Authorities Cited (14 total)
- Members of the City Council of the City of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789 (U.S. 1984)
- Metromedia, Inc. v. City OF SAN Diego, 453 U.S. 490 (U.S. 1981)
- Sw. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Save THE Manatee Club, Inc., 773 So. 2d 594 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000)
- Messer v. City OF Douglasville, 975 F.2d 1505 (11th Cir. 1992)
- Lewis v. Brunswick Corp., 107 F.3d 1494 (11th Cir. 1997)
- ONE World ONE Family NOW v. City OF Miami Beach, 175 F.3d 1282 (11th Cir. 1999)
- Lamar-Orlando Outdoor Advertising v. City OF Ormond Beach, 415 So. 2d 1312 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982)
- Bellsouth Telecomms., Inc. v. Town OF Palm Beach, 252 F.3d 1169 (11th Cir. 2001)
- Lewis et vir v. Brunswick Corp., 523 U.S. 1113 (U.S. 1998)
- Supersign OF Boca Raton, Inc. v. City OF Fort Lauderdale, 766 F.2d 1528 (11th Cir. 1985)