W.Va. Panel Removes PSC From Pole Access Bill
A West Virginia pole access bill meant to speed broadband deployment cleared the Senate Economic Development Committee at a livestreamed hearing Wednesday. In unanimous voice votes, the panel adopted SB-231 and an amendment by Sen. Eric Tarr (R). Tarr’s amendment…
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put the West Virginia Department of Economic Development instead of the Public Service Commission in charge of carrying out the proposed law. As amended, pole owners would inform the department within 30 days of making a pole ready for telecom facilities. The department would notify other broadband providers within 15 days, then providers would have 30 days to notify the owner they too would make use of the available pole space. Tarr sought to replace the PSC with the Economic Development Department because the commission doesn’t regulate broadband and so it has no ISP list. The department includes a broadband council that would have a list, he said. PSC Chairman Charlotte Lane testified it would be best to remove the PSC from the bill.