Resolve, To Facilitate the Modernization and Streamlining of the Utility Pole Attachment Process
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1219
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: TUELL

Legislative Document
No. 1219
H.P. 894
House of Representatives, March 24, 2021
Resolve, To Facilitate the Modernization and Streamlining of the 
Utility Pole Attachment Process
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 22, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TUELL of East Machias.
Sec. 1.  Public Utilities Commission; stakeholder group.  Resolved: That, 
within existing resources, the Public Utilities Commission shall convene a stakeholder 
group to develop recommendations for the implementation of 3rd-party administration of 
utility pole attachment joint use under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 711, 
which must include, but are not limited to:
1.  A framework for ensuring that 3rd-party administrators do not own and are not 
affiliated with any entity that provides retail telecommunications services in the State;
2.  A framework for divesting providers of retail telecommunications services of all 
ownership interest in utility poles; and
3.  A framework for performance-based regulation of utility pole ownership and the 
administration of utility pole attachment joint use.  
In developing the recommendations described in this section and any other stakeholder 
group recommendations, the commission shall to the greatest extent practicable ensure that 
the recommendations reflect consensus among the stakeholder group members.
Sec. 2.  Public Utilities Commission; report.  Resolved: That, on or before 
December 1, 2021, the Public Utilities Commission shall submit a report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology detailing the work of the 
stakeholder group under section 1 and including proposals and other recommendations to 
implement the recommendations described in section 1.  The report must identify any 
recommendations on which the stakeholder group failed to reach consensus and must 
include a description of the technical specifications, rules or policies necessary to 
implement the stakeholder group’s recommendations, a proposed timeline for 
implementation and any technical or legal barriers to implementation.  After reviewing the 
report, the committee may report out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular 
Session of the 130th Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Public Utilities Commission to convene a stakeholder group to 
develop recommendations for the implementation of 3rd-party administration of utility 
pole attachment joint use under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 711.  The 
commission is directed to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, 
Utilities and Technology on or before December 1, 2021 detailing the work of the 
stakeholder group and including proposals and other recommendations to implement the 
recommendations.  After reviewing the report, the committee may report out a related bill 
to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.