An Act relative to municipal authority in public rights of way

This bill (SD 1167) gives Massachusetts municipalities greater authority over utility poles, wires, and attachments in public rights of way. It requires utility companies to share pole data via systems like NJUNS, mandates new poles comply with accessibility standards, and sets a 90-day deadline for removing outdated infrastructure. Municipalities can charge fees for delayed removals, impose fines on non-compliant utilities, suspend permits for non-compliance, and adopt local fees/taxes for utility operations. Additionally, it allows municipalities to purchase utility poles from investor-owned utilities at depreciated value. The bill directly affects utility companies operating in public spaces, aiming to streamline infrastructure maintenance and reduce project delays.