CARPENTER CHEERS THE PASSAGE
OF SENATE BILL 174
FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 27, 2024) — The following is a statement issued by Sen. Jared Carpenter, R-Berea, following the passage of Senate Bill 174 (SB 174):
“This is a win for homeowners who want reliable telecommunication access and an even bigger win for Kentucky home builders who no longer have to worry about projects being stalled because of unnecessary and burdensome regulations,” said Carpenter.
“The goal here is to reduce unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy. By removing the requirement for internet and phone service contractors—only digging about four to six inches into the ground—to call 811, we’ll be offering customers much better service in our efforts to expand broadband.”
Background on SB 174
SB 174 amends the statutes governing underground facility damage prevention commonly referred to as the 811 call before you dig law. The bill will exempt communication service providers from being required to call 811 before they hook up residences and other properties to communication terminals. This process typically only requires the service providers to dig down a few inches with a hand shovel, making it highly unlikely that they would impact other utilities in the area. The requirement to call 811 in advance can result in delays in hooking up the service, which can range from days to weeks.
The bill requires communications service providers to report to the Public Service Commission any incidents involving damage to an underground facility used in the transportation of gas or hazardous liquid that resulted from the hook-ups that are exempted from the requirement to call 811 by this bill. It also requires the PSC to report all such damage incidents to the Legislative Research Commission on or before December 31, 2025.
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Senator Jared Carpenter, R-Berea, represents the 34th Senate District including Madison County and the southern portion of Fayette County. Carpenter serves as chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance. He also serves as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources and Energy Committee and Transportation Committee.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carpenter, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate134.jpg.
