Bill > H2882

This bill establishes a process to reduce the number of "double poles," which are instances where two utility poles stand close together, often due to outdated infrastructure or the addition of new services. The bill requires the Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Telecommunications and Cable to jointly issue a report assessing progress in removing double poles since 2003, detailing which poles have been removed and which remain, along with their installation dates and owners. It also mandates the creation of a "double pole remediation advisory council" composed of representatives from various stakeholders, including municipalities, utility companies, unions, and government agencies, to recommend strategies for reducing double poles. This council will analyze potential measures such as improving data accuracy in the Pole Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, ensuring access to this data for municipalities, requiring semi-annual reports from pole owners, mandating meetings between pole owners and municipalities, securing commitments for timely removal of existing and new double poles, and authorizing fines for non-compliance. Following the council's recommendations, or if the council fails to provide them within a specified timeframe, the two departments will jointly develop and implement rules and regulations, potentially including fines, to address the issue, with municipalities having the option to enforce these regulations through local ordinances. Finally, the departments will submit annual reports to the legislature on the status of double pole remediation and suggest further legislative actions.