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Panel Unanimously Advances Bill Requiring Railroad Safety Rules for Broadband Work on Rail Easements
Summary
Senator Gooch presented SB370, which would require utilities and internet providers to follow Class I railroad safety requirements where their work crosses railroad easements; testimony from Norfolk Southern and Georgia EMCs supported the measure and the committee approved it unanimously by voice vote.
Senate Bill 370 received a unanimous do-pass recommendation after senators and industry representatives told the committee the measure codifies existing safety practices for work in railroad easements.
Senator Gooch told the committee the bill requires that when a utility easement crosses a Class I railroad, the utility company or internet provider must follow the railroad's safety requirements in that easement. "This would allow those utility companies to also put the Internet lines up," he said, and the bill would require the railroad safety requirements be met where the easement crosses the railroad.
Connor Poe of Norfolk Southern Corporation said the bill "codif[ies] language that our companies currently use" and emphasized that railroad right-of-way work requires special insurance and safety protocols because "our right of way is not like your typical right of way" and trains travel at high speeds. Jason Bragg with Georgia EMCs said the language mirrors practices EMCS already follow, supports broadband deployment and provides stakeholders added comfort.
A do-pass motion on SB370 passed by voice vote and the chair announced the bill "passes unanimously." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally in this hearing.
