JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- After getting stymied in court, many telecommunications companies are supporting a new approach in the Missouri Legislature to try to limit local restrictions on cellphone towers.
A Senate commerce committee heard testimony Tuesday on five separate bills limiting city regulations on cellphone towers, utility poles and right-of-way rules.
All of the measures were rolled into a single bill that passed last year. But it was struck down last fall by Cole County Circuit Judge Pat Joyce for violating the Missouri Constitution's single-subject requirement for legislation.
Supporters of the legislation say it's needed to curtail a patchwork of city regulations that can hinder the expansion of high-speed Internet service.
But cities say it undermines their ability to protect property values through local zoning and land use requirements.