BILL SUMMARY DETAILS

Florida League of Cities

Utility and Communications Service Poles (SB 1944 Oppose – Preemption; Neutral on CS/HB 1567)

CS/HB 1567 (DiCeglie) and SB 1944 (Albritton) give very broad authority to the Public Service Commission to regulate and enforce rates, charges, terms and conditions in situations in which a pole owner is unable to reach an agreement with a party seeking pole attachments. The bills define "redundant pole" and require that attaching entities remove their pole attachments from a redundant pole within 90 days of a written request by the pole owner. Under certain circumstances, the pole owner may transfer or relocate the pole attachment to a new pole at the non-compliant attaching entity's expense, unless the pole attachments are owned by an electric utility. In SB 1944, the definitions of "pole" and "pole attachment" are very broad and could have unintended consequences. CS/HB 1567 was amended to clarify that municipal-owned rights of way and municipal electric poles are not included. The League is neutral on CS/HB 1567. (Hughes)