New Jersey Statutes Title 48. Public Utilities 48 § 3-122

As used in P.L.2023, c. 293 (C.48:3-122 et seq.):

“Abandoned” means any line that: (1) is not terminated at both ends to equipment or to a customer's premises; (2) is not maintained in a safe condition; (3) is not intended for future use; or (4) has not been in operation for a period of at least 24 consecutive months, and the owner of a structure to which the line is attached has submitted a request for removal of the line pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2023, c. 293 (C.48:3-124). The term “abandoned” shall not include any line that is overlashed.

“Board” means the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency.

“Cable television service” means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1972, c. 186 (C.48:5A-3).

“Entity” means a person, municipality, utility, or corporation having ownership of a line in this State, including ownership acquired by sale or corporate merger.

“Line” means an above-ground cable or wire attached to a pole, building, or other structure, used or useful for the provision of any telecommunications service or cable television service, including, but not limited to, a copper telephone line, and shall include any equipment or facility associated with that line attached to that pole, building, or other structure.

“Maintained in a safe condition” means any time in which the state of a line is in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations adopted by the board concerning plant and facility construction, which regulations shall include N.J.A.C.14:5-2.1, N.J.A.C.14:10-1A.12, and N.J.A.C.14:18-2.1, as applicable, as well as any other successor regulations.

“Telecommunications service” means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1972, c. 186 (C.48:5A-3).

“Utility” means any “public utility” as defined in R.S.48:2-13, or “local utility” as defined in section 3.1 of P.L.1975, c. 291 (C.40:55D-4).