The Barriers
What’s Holding Us Back
The factors that have created and continued to contribute to the digital divide are numerous and wide-ranging. By addressing these factors comprehensively, we can turn the tide and expand access to the connectivity, tools, education, care, and innovation that will support thriving economies, healthier and safer communities, and the success of our future generations.
Facilitate Predictable, Timely, and Fair Access to Utility Poles in Rural Areas
Utility poles represent the backbone of our nation’s broadband infrastructure. However, a major obstacle to expanding broadband access is the complex web of legal and financial barriers that often limit access to rural utility poles. A patchwork of laws governing utility poles creates confusion and dramatically increases the time and money needed to connect rural communities.
“Make-ready work” or the process of attaching broadband cables to utility poles, includes everything from permitting and renting space for equipment to replacing old or out-of-code poles. Inconsistent regulation of these poles frequently leads to delays in bringing internet access to more homes and diverts resources that could be used to bring more broadband to unserved communities, but instead it’s often spent on unreasonable pole-related costs.
Accessing and preparing utility poles can consume as much as 35 percent of the total investment in a rural broadband expansion project.
Pole Issues and Process Transparency
Because rural areas have fewer homes and businesses than urban areas, broadband providers require access to multiple poles per home in a rural location, as opposed to multiple homes per pole in urban settings. Because of this, pole applications, pole replacement rules, pole rental fees and the dispute resolution process play a significant role in determining costs, timing, and the economic viability of buildout in these areas.
In urban areas an internet connection to 10 homes may require an attachment to only one pole, but it is the opposite in rural areas, where a single home can require attaching to more than 10 poles.
While efforts have been made by the Federal Communications Commission and several states in recent years to streamline these complicated systems – there are still barriers with certain pole owners that are delaying buildout of the infrastructure needed to connect more Americans. We need fair rules to make sure the pole owners are fairly compensated, but not reaping a windfall at the expense of connecting more rural homes.
NEXT: The Solutions
