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Telecom, recyclers back HB 4140 dash‑1 to curb copper and scrap thefts that threaten public infrastructure
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Summary
Industry witnesses, recyclers and broadband providers supported HB 4140 with a dash‑1 amendment, saying expanded definitions, proof‑of‑ownership rules for sensitive items and linkage to national theft‑alert systems will help reduce theft and damage to telecommunications and other critical infrastructure that can leave rural customers without 911 access.
Supporters of House Bill 4,140 told the committee a targeted bill with technical amendments would help stem a rising tide of theft and vandalism of telecommunications and other critical infrastructure.
Fawn Berry (Oregon Cable Telecommunications Association) urged passage with the dash‑1 amendment and said telecom facilities and other utilities face a troubling rise in theft and damage. Jared Weiner (Lumen Technologies) provided sector data, saying incidents affecting providers rose nationally from 5,770 reported incidents in mid‑2024 to more than 9,700 in the first half of 2025 and that Oregon’s incidents have risen faster than the national average.
The proposed dash‑1 amendments update terminology to ensure telecommunications providers beyond utilities are covered, require proof of ownership for designated sensitive items sold to scrap dealers, and connect scrap dealers to a national theft alert system. Daryl Fuller (Pacific Northwest Metal Recyclers) and other industry witnesses said the dash‑1 amendments resulted from broad stakeholder work and asked the committee to pass the bill with those technical fixes.
Committee members asked clarifying questions; the public hearing concluded and the committee closed testimony for future work sessions.
