How to streamline pole attachment processes to meet the FCC’s new rules

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued new rules to speed up the expansion of broadband by eliminating long-standing bottlenecks in permitting and make-ready work. This problem has caused contentious relationships between pole owners and attachers and reshapes how these groups handle pole attachments. Bottlenecks in permitting and make-ready work have long been attributed as the root cause of delays in broadband deployment.

Speed and accuracy of data collection, along with the ability to collaborate between parties, are at the center of the pole attachment conundrum. Broadband providers have long said that delays in gathering pole data, preparing documentation, or performing structural analysis can derail entire projects. From the other perspective, utilities claim that an incomplete or inconsistent application can consume valuable utility resources and raise compliance and safety risks under the new FCC guidelines.

Two major proposed changes:

• Contractor approvals must be completed within 30 days, or requests are automatically deemed approved.
• Large attachment requests (3,000+ poles) must follow defined timelines, with firm deadlines for each stage of review.

Utilities claim that these two rules mean less flexibility. Attachers say this is a preferable path forward, but they will need to supply complete, utility-compliant data quickly to make these rules effective. The bottom line: both sides must embrace faster, more reliable ways to manage pole information and structural analysis.

Accurate field data that is easily shared among stakeholders is critical to successful pole attachment projects. Missing measurements, inconsistent photos, or poorly formatted records can lead to rejections and weeks of delay. Fortunately, the IKE Device and IKE Office Pro were designed to address these exact issues while providing a centralized platform to access data.

With the IKE Device, enabled field teams can capture all necessary measurements, notes and photos into a standardized digital platform, eliminating data errors and inconsistencies inherent in manual data collection. All pole data is stored in one place, and make-ready assessments are properly formatted for utility review. The data can also be used to automatically populate joint-use forms directly via IKE Office Pro’s scripting capabilities. By ensuring that documentation meets utility and regulatory standards from the start, IKE Office Pro lowers the likelihood of rework or rejected applications. Since pole owners, attachers and engineering partners have secure access to pole data, they can view, analyze and verify information. This eliminates the endless email exchanges that often result in miscommunication, field revisits and wasted time. IKE Office Pro allows broadband providers to move their fiber projects forward with confidence and gives utilities trust in the accuracy and completeness of applications.

Ensuring that every attachment complies with the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and individual utility safety standards is the job of IKE PoleForeman. By providing standardized structural analysis, disputes and project delays are minimized. IKE PoleForeman makes analysis consistent, accurate and easy to manage. NESC safety code requirements are built into IKE PoleForeman, ensuring every pole is analyzed against the correct standards. Attachers and utilities share the same pole loading analysis calculation models which reduces the risk of conflicting results. IKE PoleForeman can process and generate results quickly even for large orders involving thousands of poles. This allows the project to align with the new, tighter FCC guidelines.

Pole data collected with the IKE Device, measured with IKE Office Pro and analyzed with IKE PoleForeman creates an end-to-end system for managing pole attachments that is unified and transparent to all parties. Utilities have the assurance of having tools that produce confidence in meeting the new, FCC guidelines. Attachers find it easier to submit complete, accurate and compliant applications. This reduces risk in project rejection, keeping the broadband project on track. Contractors will have a defined data and process structure that ensures that regulatory and utility expectations are met.

The new FCC rules demand an increase in efficiency at every step. From field data collection to documentation to analysis, IKE ensures that joint-use stakeholders can focus on building and maintaining safe, reliable infrastructure instead of getting bogged down in paperwork and disputes.

Schedule a demo to see how IKE can help you meet the FCC’s new pole attachment rules.

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John J. Simmins is the Director of the Advanced Power Grid Laboratory at Alfred University. His responsibilities include using the unique facilities to research renewable energy integration research, study on the impact of DERs on grid stability and performance, and research the optimization of energy storage and distributed generation systems . Alfred provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in Renewable Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, as well as Glass and Ceramic Engineering. Dr. Simmins spent ten years at EPRI as a Technical Executive before going to Alfred. At EPRI he studied the intersection of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and geospatial information systems. He holds a B.S. and Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University.