Bridging the digital divide one anchor institution at a time.
Pole Attachments
Broadband providers that attempt to deploy networks in rural markets often find that the costs of attaching to existing telephone or electric poles are excessively high, making the region uneconomic to serve. The FCC has made progress by adopting policies to promote one-touch-make-ready for wireline and wireless networks, but has not yet adopted guidelines to govern pole replacement costs. Adopting SHLB’s proposed guidelines would reduce the costs and expedite the process of approving pole attachments or pole replacements to address this digital disparity.
Because CAIs are both users and providers of wireless broadband services, SHLB will continue to promote rules that help CAIs take advantage of spectrum opportunities for both licensed (including both shared and exclusive) and unlicensed spectrum in 2023.
SHLB's Advocacy
Ex parte to Commissioner Starks' Office regarding pole attachments proceeding
July 14, 2022
Among other things, SHLB proposed the idea of state pole attachment working groups to assist in expediting pole problems.
June 27, 2022
SHLB made several recommendations to the FCC about how to ensure cost allocation disputes surrounding pole replacements do not delay broadband build-out
Ex parte letter to the FCC regarding the draft pole attachments Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
March 9, 2022
SHLB proposed several additional questions for the FCC to consider including in its upcoming Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, "Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment.
January 31, 2022
SHLB detailed many pole attachments and rights-of-way issues that are stalling broadband deployment, asking that the Commission begin a rulemaking proceeding to resolve these problems.
Key Documents
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November 2021 |
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June 2021 |
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