{"id":5712,"date":"2012-02-01T11:33:13","date_gmt":"2012-02-01T16:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/?p=5712"},"modified":"2012-02-01T11:33:40","modified_gmt":"2012-02-01T16:33:40","slug":"why-the-telephone-pole-tax-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/02\/01\/why-the-telephone-pole-tax-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Why The Phone Pole Tax Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Trace Meek \/ Flickr<\/p>

We'll explain why an obscure property tax matters<\/p><\/div>\n

We’ll admit it: The telephone pole property tax sounds like a dry topic for the 2012 Legislative session<\/a> at first glance.<\/p>\n

And at second glance, for that matter.<\/p>\n

But fortunately for us, John Toole of the Eagle-Tribune<\/em> took a third look<\/a>, rustled up some sources, facts, and stats, and managed to make the story not only interesting, but also compelling.\u00a0 We highly recommend you check out his article.<\/p>\n

But if you don’t have time (or need a bit of convincing), here’s the backstory in a nutshell:\u00a0 Until two years ago, it was state law that municipalities couldn’t charge telecoms property taxes for phone poles.\u00a0 When the legislature lifted the exemption, the telecoms objected on the grounds that customers’ bills would go up.\u00a0 (In fact, the Public Utilities Commission<\/a> allowed Fairpoint Communications<\/a> to at least temporarily issue a surcharge on phone bills to off-set the newly reinstated property tax.)<\/p>\n

In short, the phone company wants its tax-free phone poles back.<\/p>\n

And they might just get them if HB 1305<\/a> passes the legislature.<\/p>\n

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