Dish Blames Power Company for Calif. Wireless Build Delay

Pacific Gas and Electric is creating “unnecessary and unwarranted delays and expenses” for Dish Network as it builds a 5G wireless network in California, Dish said in a complaint posted Wednesday by the California Public Utilities Commission. Dish must get power from PG&E for cellular equipment on towers and rooftops, but since Aug. 1 the power company changed its interpretation of the Electric Rule 16 and started requiring cellular carriers to pay for new consolidated power service points on towers, said the Dish complaint in docket C.22-08-002. That especially affects Dish because it's "in the process of deploying hundreds of sites throughout the state as part of its efforts to meet an FCC-mandated nationwide wireless build,” it said. "Because of PG&E's unlawful rule change, DISH would be required to convince its competitors (i.e. existing facilities-based cellular carriers) to re-wire their cellular equipment and to pay for all equipment necessary for them to obtain power from the new consolidated service point on the tower." PG&E is reviewing the complaint, "and will respond within the process that the [CPUC] sets forth," said the utility's spokesperson. A Crown Castle official noted barriers to getting power for California 5G facilities at NARUC's conference last month (see 2207180021).