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Mass. Rep Seeks to Spur Muni Broadband With Pole Policy

Massachusetts legislators who want to promote rural broadband should crack down on “exorbitant” make-ready rates charged by pole owners in unserved areas, said state Rep. John Barrett (D) at a Joint Telecommunications Committee virtual hearing Friday. Barrett proposed H-3256 to…

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exempt municipalities from paying make-ready fees to use poles for providing broadband to unserved areas. He sees a “lack of oversight” on poles and thinks locally owned broadband could bring “effective competition” to areas that now have one cable company selling high-speed service at high prices, Barrett said: Maine enacted a law like H-3256 and hasn’t been sued yet.