SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2037 FILED ON: 2/19/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2164
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Diana DiZoglio
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to pole health.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
Diana DiZoglio | First Essex |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2037 FILED ON: 2/19/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2164
By Ms. DiZoglio, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2164) of Diana DiZoglio for legislation relative to pole health. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act relative to pole health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 34B of chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
Distribution companies and telephone companies shall evaluate pole health quarterly, in the periods of January 1 to 14, inclusive, April 1 to 14, inclusive, July 1 to 14, inclusive, and October 1 to 14, inclusive, to properly plan for repairs so that only unpredictable repairs are performed in the summer and winter months. Distribution or telephone companies shall share the data and results of the evaluations with the municipalities not later than one week after they are conducted. The data shall include the number of active poles in the city and the anticipated repair schedule for the next quarter, including the number of poles that will require repair. If a pole requires repair on a day on which the temperature is predicted to be less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the distribution company or telephone company shall provide any municipality that has service affected by the repairs not less than 72-hour notice, if possible, and shall pay the cost of opening and operating any necessary emergency shelter for such a municipality.