Massachusetts Broadband Legislative Summit

presented by GoNetspeed

What is OTMR?

One Touch Make Ready, OTMR, is a practice that would allow providers to perform construction surveys and submit completed engineering applications, including make-ready work, to the pole owners. OTMR will reduce the length of the application process, making it possible for providers to provide access to high-speed fiber internet to many more individuals throughout the state.

How does OTMR impact the Commonwealth?

Currently, Massachusetts is the only Northeastern state without OTMR in place.

OTMR allows both private and public investment go farther, allowing more miles of network to be built, and more customers to have access to state-of-the-art service. It also helps to improve the timeline and overall efficiency of the process.

Through OTMR practices, the provider performs the survey with an approved designated by pole owners. Once the survey is completed, the provider submits the application with engineering complete. The provider will perform all make-ready work through an approved contractor, eliminating the need for multiple visits to impacted poles. The efficiency of the OTMR system will dramatically reduce the timeframe of the application process from years to months while reducing make-ready costs. This allows new providers to deliver access to service much quicker, creating another fast service option for consumers.

What’s being done?

Both S.2133 and H.3208 are before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. These bills would introduce OTMR which would significantly improve the broadband inequality that has contributed to our state’s growing digital divide.

BILL S.2133

Sponsored by Senator Adam Gomez
An Act to establish standards for the pole attachment process to facilitate the construction of broadband networks

Learn More About S.2133

BILL H.3208

Sponsored by Representative Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.
An Act to establish standards for the pole attachment process to facilitate the construction of broadband networks

Learn More About H.3208

Take action and send a letter of support today!

Step 1: Click here to copy the letter below.

May 2024

The Honorable Aaron M. Michlewitz, Chairman
House Committee on Ways and Means
State House—Room 243
Boston, MA 02133

RE: Support OTMR Legislation to Increase Broadband Access in Western and Central MA

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I write to urge you and the Committee on Ways and Means to report favorably on House, No. 3208, “An Act to Establish Standards for the Pole Attachment Process to Facilitate the Construction of Broadband Networks.” This bill, sponsored by Representative Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and its Senate counterpart, S. 2133, create a One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) system that is vital to extending high-speed internet access at competitive rates to all corners of the Commonwealth.

Right now, more and more residents throughout Central and Western Massachusetts are quickly being left behind in the growing digital divide. Many residents across the Commonwealth lack access to high-speed fiber internet or a choice of providers at all.

This problem can be solved. OTMR is a practice that would allow providers to perform construction surveys and submit completed engineering applications, including make-ready work, to utility pole owners, streamlining the timeline and allowing more internet options to reach underserved communities.

Enacting OTMR would allow both private and public investments to go farther, allowing more miles of network to be built, and more customers to have access to state-of-the-art service.

H.3208 (and S.2133) and would enact an OTMR system to match every other New England state, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. This win-win legislation would vastly improve the make-ready process for broadband construction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, reduce costs, and enable providers to deliver faster internet service and more options to residents.

We need your help to improve internet access in the Commonwealth. Please support this key legislation to improve broadband access and options.

Thank you for your consideration.

Step 2: Click the button below to open your email client to paste the letter.

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