MO HB1361

Telecommunications and broadband service providers and rural electric cooperatives may attach equipment to poles owned by telecommunications transmission or rural electric cooperative distribution system owners, subject to written agreement and safety standards.

Pole owners must respond within 15 business days to attachment requests and may charge reasonable pole attachment fees based on cost, with annual increases capped at 10% (or 20% if previous fee was 50% or more below cost) upon contract renewal.

Attaching entities must notify pole owners before attachment, pay for any repairs or damages caused by improper attachment, and may face penalty fees of 25% of the pole attachment fee for up to 12 months if attachments are made without authorization.

Landowners may receive one-time payments of $500 per mile (minimum $100 per parcel) from rural electric cooperatives if broadband facilities are attached to transmission lines of 34.5 kilovolts or above on easements acquired before August 28, 2006, subject to specific conditions.

Disputes over pole attachment fees may be resolved through nonbinding mediation, and if unsuccessful, either party may seek circuit court review to determine reasonable fees within statutory limits.