(1) The county court, board of county commissioners or the Department of Transportation, when designating the location where poles or other aboveground facilities described in ORS § 758.010 may be placed on a road or highway which fronts on the ocean or on a river or other body of water and the water frontage of the highway is being developed or maintained for its scenic or recreational value, may require all lines to occupy the opposite side of the right of way, if such joint occupancy can be maintained without undue impairment of service or damage to public life and property.

(2) If the owners of such lines are unable to agree on the terms and conditions of joint occupancy, such department, court or board shall request the Public Utility Commission to determine the practicability of such joint occupancy and the effect thereof upon adequate and safe service by the prospective joint occupants, the location of the lines, and, if found to be practicable, to fix and prescribe the terms and conditions pursuant to which joint occupancy shall be accomplished. Before making or entering an order, such commission shall hold a hearing and make findings in accordance with ORS § 756.500 to 756.610. The order of the commission is subject to judicial review in the manner provided by ORS § 756.610. In fixing terms and conditions pursuant to which joint occupancy shall be accomplished, the Public Utility Commission shall require the installation by each occupant of standards, devices and equipment reasonably necessary to protect the equipment of the other occupants from damage and the public from injury arising from such joint occupancy.

(3) The right of any public utility, telecommunications utility or transmission company to construct, maintain and operate on a public highway poles or fixtures is contingent on compliance with reasonable requirements established by the Department of Transportation, county courts, boards of county commissioners or the Public Utility Commission under authority of this section and ORS § 758.010. Such rights are likewise contingent and conditioned on all facilities, equipment and installations being constructed and maintained in strict conformance with modern and approved standards. [Amended by 1971 c.655 § 102; 1987 c.447 § 98; 2001 c.913 § 7; 2005 c.638 § 11; 2017 c.312 § 6]