Utilities Back FCC Pole Replacement Ruling

The FCC declaratory ruling last month that new attachers shouldn't be charged the full cost of a pole replacement when they aren't the sole reason for the replacement "draws an appropriate bright-line that will reduce disputes in these situations," the Edison Electric Institute and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association told staff for acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington, per filings posted Tuesday in docket 17-84 (see 2101190027). The electric industry "supports the national goals for the deployment of broadband networks," and "regulatory certainty regarding full cost recovery" for pole replacements allows utilities to "voluntarily replace poles to accommodate new attachers to support broadband deployment," the groups said: Pole replacement disputes are "infrequent," and any disputes regarding red-tagging certain poles or cost responsibility should be addressed "in an adjudicatory proceeding."