{"AmendmentNumber":"529","ParentBillNumber":"S3178","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"PRF0","Name":"Paul R. Feeney","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/PRF0","ResponseDate":"2026-07-20T14:12:36.063"},"Category":null,"Action":"Rejected","RollCall":[],"Title":"Encouraging double utility pole removal\r\n","Branch":"Senate","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Messrs. Feeney and Tarr move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:- \r\n\"SECTION __. Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 34B and inserting in place thereof the following section:-\r\nSection 34B. A distribution company or a telephone company engaging in the removal of an existing pole and the installation of a new pole in place thereof shall complete the transfer of wires, all repairs and the removal of the existing pole from the site within 180 days from the date of installation of the new pole; provided, however, that for any approved commercial or industrial construction project, the completion of which is expected to take longer than 1 year, said company shall be required to remove such pole within 180 days from the date of installation of the new pole. The owner of such pole shall notify all other users of the starting date of such removal and installation work at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of such work, and said owner shall require all other users to remove their wiring and other attachments from the poles in a timely manner.\r\nThe department of public utilities and the department of telecommunications and cable may promulgate regulations allowing such distribution company or telephone company to move the attachments, as defined in section 25A of chapter 166, of other users. Relevant line worker, electrical, distribution company and telephone company labor unions shall be made a party to any rulemaking related to such regulations. A city or town may enforce this section by the enactment of a local ordinance or bylaw prohibiting double poles beyond the 180 days, as the case may be, as authorized by this section, the violation of which may be punishable by a fine to be imposed on the owner of such double poles not to exceed a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence.\"\r\n"}