CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – To reduce delays and assist in deployment of broadband, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia has authorized the use of temporary attachments on utility poles.
To achieve broadband deployment, broadband providers need to attach their communication lines to existing utility poles. The pole owners, usually electric utilities or telephone companies, are required to share space on the poles. The state has an estimated 2.5 million poles, the majority of which are owned by electric power companies.
The Commission issued General Order No. 261.3 and made two other rulings toward clarifying the rights and obligations of entities — cable TV and broadband providers — wishing to attach to utility poles, and the pole owners. The changes are effective immediately.
DQE Communications LLC (DQE), a telephone utility and interchange carrier, petitioned the Commission on March 27 for a temporary attachment modification to PSC pole rules to accelerate broadband expansion.
DQE’s revised rule would mandate that when an attacher has agreed to and paid for a pole replacement, the attacher should be permitted to make a temporary attachment to the existing pole, the order said. DQE said this “could assist in the timely deployment” of broadband.
“… Pole owners have a duty …. to allow for non-discriminatory access to poles by third-party attachers,” the Commission ruled.
“The Commission expects the utility owners of the necessary infrastructure, the utility poles, to expedite, not hinder, attachments that will accelerate access to sorely needed broadband throughout West Virginia,” the order said.
Further rulemaking is needed to establish final temporary attachment rules. “The issues surrounding expedited pole attachments have not been resolved as we had hoped through timely cooperation between all affected parties, including pole owners, existing attachers and new attachers,” the Commission noted.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access General Order No. 261.3 and Case Nos. 25-0463-CTV-E-POLE and 25-0350-T-P.
