Telecommies

Massachusetts courts may close a property tax loop hole for the telecommunications industry, specifically regarding poles and wires over public property. Local officials are delighted with this new taxation target. The problem is, 5,000 other businesses benefiting from this same loop hole would remain unaffected.

The expanded tax would supplement pre-existing property taxes paid for such utility lines stretching over private land.

Ironically electrical lines, virtually identical in nature, enjoy no such loop hole. They must pay comprehensive property taxes over all land. However poles and wires for these traditional utility lines are instead, exempt from sales taxes.