CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Public Service Commission of West Virginia issued an order Tuesday concerning who must bear the cost of replacing poles used to carry broadband communications across the state.
The 2.5 million poles in West Virginia are owned primarily by power and telephone companies. This order deals with others who want to add attachments to those poles, in this case broadband.
This is part of the Commission’s efforts to accelerate the expansion of broadband communications.
Those pole companies, primarily electric utilities, cannot charge a third party the full cost when one of the poles must be replaced, the Commission said. “This means that companies with poles already slated for replacement – regardless of why – should not automatically saddle new attachers with the entire cost,” the Commission ruled.
“… Not only new entrants, but all who benefit by using the new pole, should bear appropriate cost responsibility,” it said, adding that its interpretation is in line with that of the Federal Communications Commission.
How the cost-sharing will be determined is left to the utility involved.
In July, the Commission ruled the pole owners have a duty to provide for non-discriminatory access to poles by third-party attachers.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 24-0703-T-E-CTV-GI.
