Is a complicated mess. Poles can be owned by any of the utilities, and can be owned by the home owners. The poles have to be maintained by the owners or they can hire independent contractors. It is so complicated, billing to the consumer can be frustrating. There was a proposal once that the state takes over the maintaining of the poles and the ownership. Then the local townships were in uproar about losing their revenue from 'pole' tax.
So there you have it! Another political circle, we eventually pay the 'pole' tax.
