Cables Untaxed Only for TV, Radio Transmission, N.Y. Court Says

Fiber-optic cables and signal wires are exempt from real property taxes only if they are used exclusively for transmitting television, cable or radio, a New York appellate court ruled.

The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department on Thursday affirmed a lower court’s ruling against CenturyLink and other telecommunications companies that had sought refunds from several municipalities for property taxes on cables and conduits across the state.

More: The court rejected the companies’ argument that signal-transmitting cables and conduits fall outside of New York’s definition of public utility mass real property and were therefore tax exempt. ...