Fiber optic plant right of way map and assessed value
| Submitted | Oct. 15, 2015 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Ben Edmond
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
Fiber optic route right of way and property for all owners of fiber optic telecommunications and cable assets in Massachusetts. We are looking for the physical route information and the property assessment applied to each route.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Ben Edmond
From: Merigan, Maryann
October 21, 2015
Ben Edmond
requests@muckrock.com
Mr. Edmond:
I received your request for information on Fiber optic plant right of way map and assessed value. Specifically, you had requested Fiber optic route right of way and property for all owners of fiber optic telecommunications and cable assets in Massachusetts. We are looking for the physical route information and the property assessment applied to each route.
The Department of Revenue does determine and certify the full and fair cash valuation of the machinery, poles, wires and underground conduits, wires and pipes of the values centrally for telephone and telegraph companies (G.L. c 59, section 39.), with assets including fiber optic cable. Please see information here<http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/assessor-info/centrally-valued-utilities/> from the DOR website. Using FY16 as an example, please review FY2016 Telephone & Telegraph<http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/assessor-info/centrally-valued-utilities/fy2016-telephone-and-telegraph.html> and specifically the worksheet entitled FY2016 Additional Landline Telephone & Telegraph Data Pivot Table, which may be helpful to you.
The Department of Revenue does not maintain aggregate route or right of way information for fiber optic telecommunications and cable assets in Massachusetts. You may want to inquire with the Department of Telecommunications and Cable as to whether that information is available. For state-owned facilities, you may also want to check with the state agency that owns the underlying assets. For actual property tax assessed on a company’s real property by each city or town, please direct your inquiry to the individual communities’ Boards of Assessors.
Maryann Merigan
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From: Ben Edmond
Thank you very much for the reply and direction. I appreciate the help Maryann.
Ben