FCC Votes To Clarify Nondiscriminatory Access To Utility Poles For Cable, Telcos
Commission Launches Pole Attachment Reform, Other Broadband-Related Initiatives
John Eggerton , 5/20/2010 3:18:10 PM

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to clarify what it means for cable and telcos to have nondiscriminatory access to utility poles, though it left the heavy lifing on setting and lowering rates and timelines (shot clock) for a further rulemaking proposal.

The commission's goal is to set pole-attachment rental rates "as low and close to uniform as possible," said Wireline Competition Bureau attorney advisor Wes Platt, while speeding the process of attaching to those poles. Both are seen as a way to stimulate broadband deployment and competition. The FCC made pole attachment reform a part of the national broadband plan and one of its first action items.

The FCC voted on May 20 to launch the pole attachment reform process and several other broadband plan-related items at its monthly public meeting Thursday.

Nondiscriminatory access, said the commission, means that "communications providers have the statutory right to use space-and cost-saving techniques where practical and where consistent with the individual pole-owners use of those techniques," and that to be just and reasonable, access must also be timely.

Left for a further rulemaking was additioanal proposals on what the new uniform rental rate should be, but a staffer said after the meeting that the new proposed timeline for responding to wired pole attachment requests, including fiber and other wireless carrier attacments, would be based on a New York state shot clock of between 105 and 149 days.

The FCC will also propose allowing use of contract workers in some circumstances and reforms to its access-dispute resolution. The commission last fall took steps to speed the resolution of tower citing disputes for wireless service.

The FCC's reforms will not apply to states that already regulate their pole attachment rates (there are 20, said a Wireline Bureau staffer), or utilities that are municipally or cooperatively owned.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that resolving rights-of-way issues including pole attachments, ducts, tower citing (wireless) and one-dig initiatives, the faster and deeper it can achieve broadband deployment. "We must insure that the process for deploying infrastructure is as efficient and streamlined as possible," he said.

"We strongly support the commission for moving forward on the recommendations in the National Broadband Plan to ensure reasonable and timely access to utility poles," said National Cable & Telecommunications Association president Kyle McSlarrow. "Establishing a low uniform rate will lower the cost of broadband deployment and enable more Americans to be connected to this vital service. We look forward to working with the commission to quickly adopt new rules that will achieve these key national objectives."