Complete Story
07/25/2017
Relief for Pole Attachment Pains?
It’s an issue that cable has complained about for years, but a new FCC proceeding has raised hope that there could be some relief coming soon on the arduous process of pole attachments.
“The Commission for a long time took a hands-off approach… And thought this was an area where the market was most efficient to resolve” any problems, FCC Wireline deputy bureau chief Madeleine Findley said at The Independent Show Monday. But then, in 2011 as the agency delved into the make-ready process there were so many complaints about delays in attachments, she said. “We’ve been watching to see how things developed since then. We continue to hear there are problems and complaints.”
In April, the FCC voted on an infrastructure proceeding that could mean sweeping changes for pole attachments. The currently open docket asks questions such as whether a utility should make a decision on a pole attachment application within a shorter timeframe than the current 45 days and if there should be a 180-day shot clock for the Commission to act on pole attachment complaints.
Ervin Cable Construction vp Bo Gresham has first-hand experience with waiting on pole attachment approvals. “All our customers want us to go aerial because of costs and speed,” he explained. But if applications to attach aren’t approved, his team has to deal with locates and permits to go underground, causing more delay.
