Pa. Senate Panel Seeks Faster Solutions for Damaged Poles

A Pennsylvania bill meant to exorcise “ghost poles” will go to the full Senate after clearing the Senate Consumer Protection Committee Thursday. The House last year unanimously passed HB-1619, which would require the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to make rules quickening replacement of damaged poles and eliminating double-pole situations. A double pole occurs when a replacement pole is built alongside an older "ghost pole" that isn’t immediately removed (see 2311010015). The bill by state Rep. Alec Ryncavage (R) is the furthest along of six Republican telecom accountability bills that were introduced together this session (see 2310030036). “These abandoned utility poles are an eyesore, but more importantly they are a safety threat to our communities and to our line workers,” Ryncavage said during the webcast hearing. With billions of dollars coming into the state for broadband, it’s critical that Pennsylvania’s poles can support communications infrastructure, he added.