54.—(1) Section 254(1) of the Act of 2000 is amended by inserting after paragraph ( e) the following paragraph:

“( ee) overground electronic communications infrastructure and any associated physical infrastructure,”.

(2) A network operator shall be responsible for all costs incurred in the reinstatement of a road to a standard satisfactory to the road authority concerned arising from the opening of the road by the operator for the purpose of—

( a) the establishment of overground electronic communications infrastructure, or

( b) maintenance, repair, replacement or the addition or removal of overground electronic communications equipment.

(3) This section is without prejudice to section 101D of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 .