Maine towns can soon avoid fee for broadband devices on poles

Some Maine towns seeking to set up municipal broadband will no longer have to pay a fee to put equipment on utility poles. Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) recently signed a bill into law to exempt municipalities from such "make-ready fees." Owners will be responsible for expenses needed to make poles ready for municipal efforts to provide broadband service to underserved areas. The law takes effect 90 days after the legislative session ends.