ASSEMBLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1100

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 14, 2022

      The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1100.

      As reported, this bill requires any entity having ownership of an above-ground line, as that term is defined in the bill, to remove that line if abandoned for at least twelve months or permanently out of service. The bill provides that, after the effective date of the bill, an entity that installs, or otherwise maintains, a line over which the entity has ownership is to mark both ends of the line with the initials of the entity’s name, abbreviation of the entity’s name, corporate symbol, or other distinguishing mark or code by which ownership may be readily and definitely ascertained.

      Twelve months after the effective date of the bill, an owner of a pole, building, or other structure to which a suspected abandoned line is attached may send a written request to the entity that owns the line to remove the line if it is determined the line is abandoned.

      The bill also provides that, after the effective date of the bill, any pole attachment or other applicable agreement established or renewed may include a provision requiring an entity to submit a security deposit, in an amount to be determined by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) or the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), to the owner of a pole, building, or other structure to which the entity attaches a line, which is to be refunded to the entity once the line is removed.

      The bill requires the BPU and DCA to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the bill for entities under their respective jurisdictions.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2022-2023 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.