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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1956 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2315
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jacob R. Oliveira
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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 establishing a special commission to investigate double utility poles.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1956 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2315
By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2315) of Jacob R. Oliveira for
legislation to establish a special commission to investigate double utility poles and identify a
timeline for their removal. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a special commission to investigate double utility poles.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a
2special commission to investigate and study the use of so-called double poles. The commission
3shall consider identifying how many double poles exist and the length of time each has been in
4place, the reason why such double poles have been in place for such time, and the process and
5timeline by which existing utility poles are removed following the transfer of attached services to
6a new pole. The commission shall also consider and may make recommendations on how best to
7enforce the provisions of Section 34B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws concerning the timely
8removal of double poles, investigate whether the current timeline for removing such poles is
9reasonable and adequate, investigate how to address barriers to remove such poles, investigate
10increasing utilization, improving functionality of attachment management systems (e.g., the
11National Joint Utilities Notification System (NJUNS), and identifying solutions to resolve
12communication issues among all parties, unlicensed attachments on utility poles and
13requirements that providers promptly register such attachments, the legal liability and potential 2 of 2
14use of indemnification agreements to facilitate the removal of abandoned attachments, whether
15or not certain costs may be recovered from ratepayers, and the promulgation of regulations by
16the Department of Public Utilities and Department of Telecommunications and Cable to
17effectively regulate double utility poles.
18 The commission shall consist of 17 members: 1 of whom shall be the secretary of
19administration and finance, or the secretary’s designee; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the
20department of public utilities, or the chair's designee; 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of
21the department of telecommunications and cable, or the commissioner’s designee; 1 of whom
22shall be a representative of a municipal light board of commissioners or their designee; the house
23and senate chairs of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government; 2 members
24of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members
25of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 3 municipal officials selected
26by the governor, 1 utility pole owner; 1 utility pole attacher; the executive director of the
27Massachusetts Municipal Association or their designee; and 1 private citizen, appointed by the
28governor, who shall serve as chair of the commission and shall not be an employee of any
29electric or telecommunications utility operating in the commonwealth.
30 The commission shall file a report of its recommendations and proposed legislation, if
31any, with the clerks of the house and senate, the chairs of the house and senate committee on
32ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government
33not later than June 30, 2026.