An Act relative to municipal authority in public rights of way

This bill grants Massachusetts municipalities the authority to remove or relocate utility poles, wires, and attachments if utility companies fail to do so within a required timeframe or agreed-upon deadline. It allows towns to charge reasonable fees for this non-performance and to adopt local laws regarding fees, fines, taxes, and licensing for utilities operating in public spaces. Additionally, the legislation permits municipalities and public utilities to buy utility poles from investor-owned companies at a price that accounts for the poles' reduced value. These changes aim to give local governments more control over public rights of way while establishing clear consequences for delayed utility work.