Attleboro and surrounding towns might be getting a windfall - nearly three-quarters of a million dollars - from telephone poles.

The state Department of Revenue released figures last week indicating how much money local communities would receive if an Appellate Tax Board ruling holds up. The board ruled on March 3 that Verizon is required to pay property taxes on its poles and wires on public ways in cities and towns.

Verizon is appealing the decision.

Under current law, Verizon and other telecommunication companies' poles and wires are exempt from local property taxes, while electric companies and wireless companies are required to pay property taxes on poles and wires. The exemption was given near the turn of the 20th century to spur phone companies to string up more lines, but Gov. Deval Patrick and other state officials have fought to remove the exemption, saying it is no longer needed.

According to the Department of Revenue, the board's ruling required the state to issue by Thursday the valuation of the poles and wires and an estimate of how much each of the state's 351 communities would receive in new property tax revenue. The total valuation is $1.6 billion and the state's 351 communities would receive a total of $26.1 million.

The estimate does not include up to an estimated $50 million in new tax revenue on telephone company machinery, including switches.

In the Attleboro area, the total is $774,382.

The breakdown by community is:

Attleboro, $166,960.

Foxboro, $65,316.

Mansfield, $55,778.

Norfolk, $52,372.

North Attleboro, $70,847.

Norton, $57,856. Plainville, $25,528.

Rehoboth, $27,862.

Seekonk, $99,269.

Wrentham, $152,594.

There is no timetable for a final court decision in the case.

MIKE KIRBY can be reached at 508-236-0344 or at mkirby@thesunchronicle.com. Material from Beacon Hill Roll Call was used in this report.