Pa. PUC Seeks Comments on FCC Changes to Pole Attachments Rules

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will weigh whether it should mirror the FCC’s December changes to federal pole attachment rules. Pennsylvania reverse preempted FCC authority in March 2020 (see 2003190032). Under state rules, Pennsylvania will adopt any FCC changes 60 days after the federal amendments become effective -- unless the PUC publishes a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin saying the changes may not take effect. The Pennsylvania PUC said this week that it “hereby provides notice to the public that the Federal Rule Changes may not take effect in Pennsylvania, and hereby solicits public comment on the Federal Rule Changes.” Don’t “rehash or reargue” FCC determinations, warned the PUC in docket L-2018-3002672. “This process should be utilized to focus on the Pennsylvania-specific impacts of such changes.” Comments will be due 15 days after the notice is published in the Bulletin, it said. Expect publication of the notice in mid-August, a PUC spokesperson said Wednesday.