reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 21e - Notification of Operation Near High Voltage Lines

Section 21E. Before any operations are to be performed within six feet of any overhead high voltage lines, the person or persons responsible for the work to be done shall promptly notify the utility or other company owning or operating the overhead high voltage lines.
The work shall be performed only after satisfactory arrangements have been negotiated between the owner or operator of the lines and the contractor.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 21f - Exemptions; Definitions

Section 21F. The provisions of sections twenty-one A to twenty-one E, inclusive, shall not apply to the construction, reconstruction, operation and maintenance of overhead electrical conductors and their supporting structures and associated equipment by authorized electrical workers; nor to any authorized person engaged in the construction, reconstruction, operation and maintenance of overhead electrical or communications circuits or conductors and their supporting structures and associated equipment of rail transportation systems, electrical generating, transmission or distribution systems, or communications systems.
As used in sections twenty-one A to twenty-one F, inclusive, the words ''high voltage'' shall mean a voltage in excess of four hundred and forty volts, measured between conductors, or measured between the conductor and the ground; the words ''mechanical barrier'' shall mean, temporary devices for separating and preventing contact between material or equipment and overhead electrical conductors, such as:—
(a) Series of poles or the equivalent;
(b) Nonconductive enclosures around conductors.
''De-energizing'' shall mean removing the voltage from electrical conductors.
''Temporary relocation'' shall mean:
(a) Removing electrical conductors from poles;
(b) Elevating electrical conductors from poles;
(c) Rerouting electrical conductors.
''Authorized person'' shall mean:
(a) Employees of a light and power company with respect to the electrical system of such a company, and the employees of a transportation system with respect to the electrical circuits of such system;
(b) Employees of communication utilities, state, county or municipal agencies having authorized circuit construction on the poles or structures of an electric power company or transportation system or communication system;
(c) Employees of an industrial plant with respect to the electrical system of such plant;
(d) Employees of any electrical or communications contractor with respect to work under his supervision.
''Warning sign'' shall mean a weather resistant sign of not less than five inches by seven inches with a yellow background and black lettering reading as follows: ''WARNING—Unlawful to operate this equipment within SIX FEET of high voltage lines.''
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 21g - Violations; Penalties; Liability

Section 21G. (a) Whoever violates any of the provisions of sections twenty-one A to twenty-one F, inclusive, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
(b) If a violation of any of the provisions of sections twenty-one A to twenty-one F, inclusive, results in physical or electrical contact with any overhead high voltage line, the person, firm, corporation, or association violating said provisions shall be liable to the owner or operator of such high voltage line for all damage resulting from such contact and for all liability incurred by such owner or operator as a result of any such contact.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22b - Program for Prohibition or Removal of Overhead Wires

Section 22B. The planning board of any town, if any, or in a town having no such board, the board of selectmen and the city council of any city or a committee designated and appointed for the purpose by it, may (after completing such preliminary consideration and study, including consultation with any utility as it may deem appropriate) at any time by resolution designating the time and place therefor call a public hearing to ascertain whether the public safety, health, convenience or welfare would be advanced by a program (a) prohibiting new installation or construction of or (b) requiring progressive removal of poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures within all or any part or parts of the municipality. After such hearing the planning board, board of selectmen, city council or committee, as the case may be, shall make a report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations which shall be filed with the records of the city council or the town meeting of the municipality.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22c - Prohibition and Removal of Overhead Wires; Fines and Penalties

Section 22C. After such report has been filed, the municipality may adopt an ordinance or by-law which shall forbid a utility to install or construct except by way of replacement or upgrading of existing facilities any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures upon, along or across any public way within all or any part or parts of the municipality and shall require a utility to remove immediately any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures installed or constructed by it in violation of such ordinance or by-law. Any such ordinance or by-law shall specify whether it applies to all of the municipality or only to a part or parts thereof and, if only to a part or parts, shall describe such part or parts with reasonable certainty by reference to the names of any way or ways to all or any designated portions thereof to which it applies, by reference to a map, or by other suitable means. Any person who installs or constructs any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures in violation of any such ordinance or by-law shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than five thousand dollars. Any person who fails to remove immediately any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures in violation of any such ordinance or by-law shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than five thousand dollars for each consecutive fifteen day period during which his failure continues.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22e - Cooperative Agreements to Remove Overhead Wires

Section 22E. Any utility organized and existing under the laws of or doing business in this commonwealth and any municipality may enter into, and from time to time amend, and perform a cooperation agreement pursuant to which (a) the utility shall pay to the municipality in each calendar year for a period of years specified in such agreement an amount which shall be not less than two per cent of such utility's gross revenue or in the case of a distribution company as defined in section 1 of chapter 164, 7 per cent of retail delivery revenues derived during the next preceding calendar year from its customers in said municipality and (b) the municipality shall expend during such term as such agreement may specify an amount not exceeding the sums paid to it by the utility pursuant to such agreement to remove (or cause to be removed) any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures of such utility and, if needed for the continuation of such utility's service, to replace the same (or cause them to be replaced) with underground facilities. In carrying out its obligations under any such cooperation agreement, a municipality may exercise all of its powers appurtenant to the performance of any public work and may award contracts in the same manner and subject to the same limitations and restrictions as would apply to like contracts in reference to the planning or performance of any public work. Such cooperation agreement may contain any and all such provisions as shall be consistent with the purposes of this section, including a provision that the municipality shall expend a portion of the sums paid to it by the utility for the provision of customer's service facilities.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22f - Notice of Hearing or Ordinance to Remove Overhead Wires

Section 22F. The municipality shall comply with the following provisions with reference to notice:
(a) When the planning board, board of selectmen, city council or committee of any municipality calls a public hearing pursuant to section twenty-two B, the clerk of the municipality shall publish a copy of said resolution in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once not more than fifteen nor less than five days prior to said hearing.
(b) When a municipality adopts an ordinance or by-law pursuant to section twenty-two C or section twenty-two D the clerk of the municipality shall, in addition to any other notice required by law, notify all utilities known to have poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures affected by said ordinance or by-law and all persons known to own real property served by said poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures, by mailing a copy thereof to said persons and utilities within thirty days after the date it was adopted.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22g - Emergency Erection of Overhead Wires

Section 22G. The board of selectmen or city council of any municipality may grant special permission, for such period and on such terms as it may deem appropriate, in cases of emergency or unusual circumstances, without discrimination as to any person or utility, to erect, construct, install, maintain, use or operate, poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures, notwithstanding the provisions of any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to section twenty-two C or twenty-two D. No person shall be deemed to have violated any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to section twenty-two C or section twenty-two D for doing any act authorized by any such special permission.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22h - Underground Construction; Responsibility of Utility

Section 22H. If underground construction is necessary to provide replacement facilities for any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures removed pursuant to any ordinance or by-law enacted pursuant to section twenty-two D the utility shall be responsible to furnish in connection with such replacement facilities only that portion of the conduits, conductors and associated equipment required to be furnished by it under its applicable rules, regulations and tariffs on file with the department (hereinafter called the ''utility's service facilities''); provided, however, that the utility shall by its tariff offer to carry its lines up to any structure which is to receive service or a distance of fifty feet from the street, whichever is the lesser; and provided, further, that if any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to section twenty-two D so provides, any utility in providing underground replacement facilities for any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures shall install customer's service facilities. Underground construction by the utility, or by or on behalf of any municipality, pursuant to any cooperation agreement entered into pursuant to section twenty-two E shall be accomplished in accordance with the rules and regulations authorized by the department, and shall be scheduled so as to be completed at or prior to removal of such poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures as are being removed.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22i - Underground Construction; Customer Service Facilities

Section 22I. All underground construction and conduits, conductors and associated equipment necessary to receive utility service between the utility's service facilities referred to in section twenty-two H and the service facilities in the building or structure being served shall be deemed ''customer's service facilities''.
To the extent required by any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to section twenty-two D may provide, any utility in providing underground replacement facilities for any poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures shall install customer's service facilities. In all other respects the provision of customer's service facilities shall be the responsibility of the person owning, operating, leasing or renting said property, subject to applicable rules, regulations and tariffs of the utility on file with the department and to the requirements of applicable laws, ordinances and by-laws. If the person owning, operating, leasing or renting said property fails to provide such customer's service facilities which are his responsibility prior to the time for removal of the poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures of the utility, the engineer of the municipality shall have the authority to order the disconnection and removal of any and all overhead service wires and associated facilities supplying utility service to said property at the expense of the person owning, operating, leasing or renting said property, and the municipality shall have a claim against said person for the cost thereof and a lien against said property to secure said claim. No utility shall be in violation of any such ordinance or by-law in continuing to maintain overhead facilities necessary to serve such person during the period of such person's failure to provide customer's service facilities for which he is responsible and such reasonable time thereafter as may be necessary to remove such overhead facilities. No utility shall be deemed to be in violation of any law, by-law or ordinance or any obligation to the public or to any person by reason of such utility's discontinuing service to any property in the event of failure of the person owning, operating, leasing or renting said property to provide customer's service facilities for which he is responsible prior to the removal by any utility of its poles and overhead wires and associated overhead structures as required by any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to section twenty-two D of this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22j - Removal of Municipal Equipment From Poles

Section 22J. When a municipality adopts an ordinance or by-law pursuant to section twenty-two D, it shall remove its police and fire alarm circuits or any similar municipal equipment at its own expense from all poles required to be removed, and the removal of such circuits shall be completed in such manner and in such time as not to hinder or interfere with action taken by the utility to comply with said ordinance or by-law.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22k - Extension of Time for Removal

Section 22K. If any act required by an ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to section twenty-two D cannot be performed within the time provided on account of shortage of materials, war, restraint by public authorities, strikes, labor disturbances, or any other circumstances beyond the control of the person obligated to perform such act, then the time within which such act will be accomplished shall be extended for a period equivalent to the time of such limitations.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22l - Rate Differential; Adoption of Removal Ordinance

Section 22L. If at any time one or more but less than all of the municipalities in which the customers of any one utility are located adopt an ordinance or by-law forbidding new installation of overhead facilities under section twenty-two C, the department of telecommunications and energy shall, in accordance with the provisions of section fourteen of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine and section ninety-four of chapter one hundred and sixty-four, after notice to all the municipalities in which such customers are located, and a hearing, establish a differential between the rates charged customers located in municipalities which have adopted such ordinance and those located in municipalities which have not adopted such ordinance, provided that no such differential, however introduced or effected, shall at any time result in revenues materially exceeding any increased cost of providing service caused solely by adoption of such ordinance by such municipality. The foregoing procedure for establishing such differential shall be exclusive.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22m - Billing Surcharge; Adoption of Removal Ordinance

Section 22M. In addition to all other rates, charges and fees it may otherwise be authorized to impose and collect any utility shall impose and collect as a capital contribution towards the cost of construction a surcharge of two per cent on its total billing to each customer located in a city or town which has in force and effect an ordinance or by-law adopted in accordance with section 22D. However, a distribution company, as defined in section 1 of chapter 164, shall impose and collect a surcharge of 7 per cent of retail delivery revenues, plus interest at the rate set by the department, for customer security deposits except in a city or town that before the effective date of this section has enacted an ordinance or by-law under section 22D establishing a 2 per cent surcharge or where construction is in progress or already completed, unless the city or town otherwise agrees to the 7 per cent surcharge by adopting an ordinance or by-law under said section 22D. A surcharge under this section shall apply only if the distribution company is not in violation of the ordinance or by-law and if the ordinance or by-law has been in effect for a period of at least 1 year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 22n - Effective Date of Adopting Ordinance

Section 22N. Any ordinance or by-law adopted under the provisions of section twenty-two C or section twenty-two D shall become effective on the first day of January next following a date nine months subsequent to the date of its enactment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 23 - Citizens Establishing and Maintaining Lines

Section 23. Selectmen may authorize citizens of the commonwealth to establish and maintain, in their town, poles, wires and other apparatus for telegraphic and telephonic communication, in conformity with this chapter and other laws applicable to telegraph or telephone companies.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 24 - Construction of Lines for Private Use; Privileges of Town; Protection of Lines

Section 24. The selectmen may, upon terms and conditions prescribed by them, and subject to the provisions of this chapter, so far as applicable, authorize a person to construct for private use upon, along and under the public ways of the town telegraph and telephone lines and lines for the transmission of electricity for light, heat or power. Upon the construction of any such line, the poles and structures thereof within the location of such ways shall become the property of the town, and the selectmen may regulate and control the same, may at any time require the persons using the same to make alterations in the location or construction thereof and may, after notice and a hearing, order the removal thereof. The town may at any time attach wires for its own use to such poles and structures, and the selectmen may permit other persons to attach wires for their private use thereto or to poles and structures constructed by the town, and may prescribe reasonable terms and conditions therefor. Whoever unlawfully injures or destroys any wire, pole, structure or fixture of any such line shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 25 - Underground Telegraph, Telephone or Television Lines; Regulations

Section 25. The selectmen may, within their towns, permit telegraph, telephone or television lines to be laid under any public way or place, and may establish reasonable regulations for the erection and maintenance of all lines for the transmission of intelligence by telegraph, telephone or television, or for the transmission of electricity for light, or for heat or power except for the use of street railway companies, by every person having authority to place such structures in or under public ways or places, including all lines owned or used by said towns. Regulations established by a city hereunder shall be made by ordinance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 26 - Violation of Regulations

Section 26. The selectmen shall forthwith give written notice in detail to the owner, constructor or person using any line constructed or maintained in violation of such regulations; and if thereafter such unlawful construction is continued or if said lines are not within a reasonable time so altered as to conform to said regulations, the supreme judicial or superior court may enjoin the further progress of said work, or order such line removed or altered at the expense of the owners, constructors or persons using the same. If such line belongs to or is used by a town, like action may be taken upon complaint of a person injured, after such notice to the town as the court may order.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 27 - Approval by Department of Ordinances or Regulations of Municipality

Section 27. No ordinance or regulation of a city or town, or regulation or restriction imposed in a grant of location, affecting the erection, maintenance or operation of a line for the transmission of electricity for light, heat or power extending or intended to extend from some point in one city or town through or to some point in another city or town, shall take effect until approved by the department of telecommunications and energy.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 28 - Approval by Department of Location; Public Hearing; Place of Hearing; Determination; Fees

Section 28. Any company subject to this chapter, except a telegraph or telephone company, desiring to construct a line for the transmission of electricity which will of necessity pass through one or more cities or towns to connect the proposed termini of such line, whose petition for the location necessary for such line has been refused, or has not been granted within three months after the filing thereof by the board of aldermen of a city or the selectmen of a town through which said company intends to construct such line for the purpose aforesaid, may apply to said department for such location. The department shall give a public hearing thereon after notice to the board of aldermen or selectmen refusing or neglecting to grant such location, and to all persons owning real estate abutting upon any way in the city or town where such location is sought, as such ownership is determined by the last assessment for taxation. The department shall, if requested by the board of aldermen or selectmen, hold said hearing in the city or town where the location is sought. If it appears at the hearing that the company has already been granted and has accepted a location for such line in two cities, or in two towns, or in a city and town adjoining the city or town because of the refusal or neglect of whose board of aldermen or selectmen to grant a location therefor the application is made, or if it appears at the hearing that the company has already been granted and has accepted locations for such line in a majority of the cities, or towns, or cities and towns through which such line will pass, and if the department deems the location necessary for public convenience, and in the public interest, it may by order grant a location for such line in the city or town with respect to which the application is made, and shall have and exercise relative thereto the same powers and authority conferred by section twenty-two upon the board of aldermen or selectmen and in addition to the provisions of law governing such company may impose such other terms, limitations and restrictions as it deems public interest may require. The department shall cause an attested copy of its order, with the certificate of its clerk, endorsed thereon, that the order was adopted after due notice and a public hearing as hereinbefore prescribed, to be forwarded to the city or town clerk, who shall record the same and furnish attested copies thereof. The company in whose favor the order is made shall pay for such record and attested copies the fees provided by clauses thirty-one and thirty-two, respectively, of section thirty-four of chapter two hundred and sixty-two.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 29 - Persons Entitled to Damages

Section 29. An owner of land abutting upon a public way along which telegraph or telephone, television, electric light, heating or power lines are constructed, erected or altered in location or construction by any telegraph or telephone, television, electric light, heating or power company, whose property is injuriously affected or diminished in value by occupation of the ground or of the air, or otherwise by such construction, erection or alteration, whether such owner is also the owner of the fee in such way or not, may recover damages therefor from the company under chapter seventy-nine.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 30 - Regulations Concerning Wires

Section 30. A person or a corporation, private or municipal, owning or operating a line of wires over or under streets or buildings shall use only strong and proper wires safely attached to strong and sufficient supports and insulated at all points of attachment; shall remove all wires the use of which is abandoned; shall properly insulate every wire where it enters a building, and, if such wire is other than a wire designed to carry an electric light, heat or power current, shall attach to it at a proper point in the circuit, near the place of entering the building, and so situated as to avoid danger from fire, an appliance adapted at all times to prevent a current of electricity of such intensity or volume as to be capable of injuring electrical instruments or of causing fire from entering the building by means of such wire beyond the point at which such appliance is attached; and shall properly insulate every wire within a building designed to carry an electric light, heat or power current.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 31 - Fixtures Supporting Wires or Cables; Marking to Show Ownership

Section 31. Such person or corporation shall plainly mark each pole, pier, abutment or other fixture supporting wires or cables containing wires over streets or buildings with the name or initials of the owner of such pole, pier, abutment or other fixture. Wherever cross arms or other appliances for the support of wires or cables belonging to different owners are attached to the same pole, pier, abutment or other fixture, every such cross arm or other appliance shall plainly be tagged or marked with the name or initials of the owner thereof. Wherever wires or cables belonging to different owners are attached to the same cross arm or other appliances for the support of wires or cables, every wire or cable shall be tagged or marked with the name or initials of the owner at or near its point of attachment to such cross arm or other appliance. No such tag or mark shall be required for the wires, poles, piers, abutments and other fixtures of a street railway or electric railroad company, except for its feed wires supported by poles carrying wires or cables belonging to another owner, and for its poles supporting wires or cables belonging to another owner, and for poles belonging jointly to the street railway company and another owner.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 32 - Municipal Inspector of Wires; Appointment; Qualifications; Powers and Duties; Liability for Removal of Wires

Section 32. A city or town shall, by ordinance, vote or by-law, appoint an inspector of wires. Said inspector shall be a licensed electrician. Two or more cities or towns may vote to form a district and shall appoint an inspector of wires, whose compensation shall be fixed by the district and paid for by each city and town comprising such district as the city and town members thereof shall determine and who shall have the same powers and duties of an inspector of a city or town. Such inspector shall supervise every wire over or under streets or buildings in such a city, town or district and every wire within or supplied from buildings and structures subject to the provisions of chapter one hundred and forty-three, and the state building code, except wires within a manufactured building or building component as defined in the state building code and inspected in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the building code commission; shall notify the person owning or operating any such wire whenever its attachments, insulation, supports or appliances are improper or unsafe, or whenever the tags or marks thereof are insufficient or illegible; shall, at the expense of the city or town, remove every wire not tagged or marked as hereinbefore required, and shall see that all laws and regulations relative to wires are strictly enforced. A city, town or district may recover in contract from the owner of any such wire so removed the expense which it has incurred for the removal thereof.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 32a - Inspector of Wires Working as Electrician; Inspection by Assistant Inspector

Section 32A. In a city, town or district which accepts this section, a licensed electrician who is appointed inspector of wires may practice for hire or engage in the business for which licensed under the applicable provisions of chapter one hundred and forty-one while serving as such inspector; provided, however, that within the area over which he has jurisdiction as wiring inspector he shall not exercise any of his powers and duties as such inspector, including those of enforcement officer of the state electrical code, over wiring or electrical work done by himself, his employer, employee or one employed with him. Any such city, town or district may in the manner provided in the preceding section appoint an assistant inspector of wires who shall exercise the duties of inspector of wires, including those of enforcement officer of the state electrical code, over work so done. Said assistant inspector may act in absence or disability of the local inspector and for his services shall receive like compensation as the city, town or district shall determine.
This section shall take effect upon its acceptance in a city, by vote of the city council, subject to the provisions of the charter of such city; in a town, by vote of the board of selectmen; in a municipality having a town council form of government, by a vote of the town council, subject to the provisions of the charter of such municipality and in a district, by vote as above provided of the cities and towns of the district.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 33 - Enforcement of Secs. 30 to 32

Section 33. The supreme judicial or superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity upon petition of the inspector designated or appointed as aforesaid, to enforce the three preceding sections and to restrain the use or maintenance, or to cause the removal, of any wire, pole or other support erected, maintained or used in violation of said sections.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 34 - Poles and Other Structures Used to Support Lines; Protection of Employees and Public

Section 34. Poles and other structures used to support lines for the transmission of electricity shall be insulated in such manner as to protect employees and other persons from accidents. If such poles and other structures are of any material except wood, and support lines which are operated at a voltage in excess of two thousand volts, they shall be plainly and conspicuously marked ''Dangerous. Keep Away''; provided, that if such poles or structures are used solely to support lines for the transmission of electricity for street lighting and are operated at a voltage of not over ten thousand volts the same need not be so marked if those parts thereof which are accessible to the public are solidly connected to a permanent ground having a resistance of not more than two ohms and if the service wires conducting the current to such poles or structures are placed in underground conduits. The inspector of wires designated or appointed under the authority of section thirty-two, or, in Boston, the fire commissioner, shall enforce this section, and he shall be the sole judge of what constitutes a proper insulation or marking as hereinbefore required. Any owner of poles or other structures, used for the transmission of electricity, shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars for each pole or structure left uninsulated, ungrounded or unmarked in violation of this section for an unreasonable time after a request by said inspector or commissioner that the same be properly insulated, grounded or marked as herein required. For the purposes of this section, the words ''inspector of wires'' or ''inspector'' shall, in any town having no such inspector, mean the selectmen.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 35 - Use of Poles and Other Fixtures for Communication Without Consent of Owner

Section 35. A corporation or person maintaining or operating telephone, telegraph, television or other electric wires or any other person who in any manner affixes or causes to be affixed to the property of another any pole, structure, fixture, wire or other apparatus for telephonic, telegraphic, television or other electrical communication, or who enters upon the property of another for the purpose of affixing the same, without first obtaining the consent of the owner or lawful agent of the owner of such property, shall, on complaint of such owner or his tenant, be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 36 - Marking Name of Corporation Maintaining or Operating on Poles or Other Fixtures

Section 36. A corporation or person maintaining or operating telephone, telegraph, television or other electric wires shall, at all places where such wires are affixed by any pole, structure or fixture to the property of another, mark such pole, structure or fixture in a clear, durable and legible manner with the name or initials of the corporation or person maintaining or operating such wires, and any corporation or person failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 37 - Prescriptive Easements

Section 37. No enjoyment, for the purposes specified in section twenty-one, for any length of time of the privilege of having or maintaining poles, wires or apparatus in, upon, over or attached to any building or land of other persons shall give a legal right to the continued enjoyment of such easement or raise any presumption of a grant thereof.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 38 - Intentional Injury or Destruction of Property; Penalty

Section 38. Whoever unlawfully and intentionally injures, molests or destroys any line, wire, pole, pier or abutment, or any of the materials or property of any street railway company, of any electric railroad company, or of any city or town engaged in the manufacture and sale of electricity for light, heat or power or of any company, owner or association described in sections twenty-one and forty-three shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both; and whoever does any act prohibited by this section between the hours of four o'clock in the afternoon and seven o'clock in the forenoon shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than four years, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 39 - Temporary Removal of Wires; Refusal of Company to Act

Section 39. Whenever, in order to move a building or for any other necessary purpose, a person desires that the wires of any such company be cut, disconnected or removed, the company shall forthwith cut, disconnect or remove the same, if the person desiring this to be done has first left a written statement, signed by him, of the time when, and the place, described by reference to the crossings of streets or highways, where he wishes to remove said wires, at the office of the company in the city or town where such place is situated, seven days before the time so stated, or, if there is no such office, if he has deposited such statement in the post office, postage prepaid, and directed to the company at its office nearest to said place, ten days before the time mentioned in said statement. If the company neglects or refuses to cut, disconnect or remove wires, as hereinbefore provided, the inspector of wires, or the selectmen of a town having no such inspector, may cause the same to be cut, disconnected or removed, and the city or town may recover of the company in contract the expense of so doing.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 40 - Removal of Wires Without Notice; Penalty

Section 40. Whoever wilfully cuts, disconnects, removes or otherwise interrupts the use of the wires of any such company, without first giving notice as provided in the preceding section, shall be punished as provided in section thirty-eight.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 42 - Liability of Telegraph Company for Injury Caused by Poles, Wires or Other Apparatus

Section 42. A telegraph company shall be liable in damages to a person injured in his person or property by the poles, wires or other apparatus of such company. If they are erected upon a public way, the city or town shall not, by reason of anything contained in this chapter or done thereunder, be discharged from its liability, but all damages and costs recovered against it on account of such injury shall be reimbursed by the company owning the poles, wires or other apparatus.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 42a - Telecommunication Service; Fraud; Penalty

Section 42A. Whoever, with intent to defraud, obtains, or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets another in obtaining, any telecommunications services valued less than five thousand dollars by any false representation, false statement, or stratagem, by unauthorized charging to the account of another, by installing or tampering with any facilities or equipment or by any other means, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a house of correction, or both.
Whoever, with intent to defraud, obtains, or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets another in obtaining, any telecommunications services of a value equal to or greater than five thousand dollars by any false representation, false statement, or stratagem, by unauthorized charging to the account of another, by installing or tampering with any facilities or equipment or by any other means, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ten years in a state prison, or both.
As used in this section, the words ''telecommunication service'' shall include the transmission of intelligence by a community antenna television system licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter one hundred and sixty-six A.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 166 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies, and Lines for the Transmission of Electricity › Section 42b - Fraudulently Avoiding Charges for Telecommunication Service; Use of Equipment, etc.; Penalties

Section 42B. Whoever makes any instrument, apparatus, equipment or device which is designed, adapted or which is used to fraudulently obtain telecommunication service in the manner prohibited by section forty-two A or which is used to conceal, or to assist another to conceal, or from any lawful authority, the existence or place of origin or of destination of any telecommunication; or whoever possesses any such instrument, apparatus, equipment or device with the intent to use or employ the same in violation of this section or section forty-two A, or whoever sells, gives transport, or otherwise transfers to another, or offers to advertisers for sale, any such instrument apparatus, equipment, or device, or any plans or instructions for making or assembling the same, with the intent to use or employ such apparatus, equipment, or device, or to allow the same to be used or employed, for a purpose described in this section or whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that the same is intended to be used, or that said plans or instructions are intended to be used for making or assembling such apparatus, equipment or device, or whoever publishes plans or instructions for making or assembling or using any such apparatus, equipment or device, intending that such be used or employed in violation of this section or section forty-two A, shall be punished by a fine of not more than thirty thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than fifteen years, or by both.
Any instrument, apparatus, device, plans or instructions or publications described in this section may be seized under warrant or incident to a lawful arrest, and, upon the conviction of a person for a violation of this section, such instrument, apparatus, device, plans, instructions or publication may be destroyed as a contraband by the sheriff of the county in which such person was convicted. As used in this section, the words ''telecommunication service'' shall also include the transmission of intelligence by a community antenna television system licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter one hundred and sixty-six A.