WV PSC Staff Backs Opt Out, Rejects Utility Ideas for Pole-Attachment Rules

West Virginia pole attachment rules should let states opt out of automatically adopting changes to federal rules, Public Service Commission staff replied in docket GO 261. The PSC is weighing rules after the state reverse pre-empts FCC authority (see 1911080016). Staff agreed with an opt out suggested by fiber company Segra, but disagreed with the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association’s suggestion to tweak wording of a rule on the utility’s burden when arguing a proposed rate is below its incremental costs. Don’t adopt changes proposed by power companies, including the FCC definition for pole attachment, telecom rate formula and self-help remedy, staff said. In other Thursday replies, WVCTA, CTIA and Frontier Communications also opposed the utilities’ ideas.