cover image: FSF Urges the FCC to Adopt Pole Attachment Reforms

20.500.12592/fzjzg9

FSF Urges the FCC to Adopt Pole Attachment Reforms

22 Jun 2022

The aim of the objective formula should be to produce a consistent calculation of the amount of direct benefits conferred on utility pole owners from pole replacements – an amount that should be subtracted from the total costs of pole replacements in order to establish the share of replacement costs to be paid by new attachers. [...] Moreover, and consistent with the comments filed by the Free State Foundation in the 2021 Pole Attachment Declaratory Ruling proceeding, the Commission should recognize that when utility pole owners request that new attachers furnish pole replacements that include upgrades or modifications that go beyond the equipment needed to support the new attachments, or when the owners request upgrades or mo. [...] As Section 1.1408(b) of the Commission's rules provides: "The costs of modifying a facility shall be borne by all parties that obtain access to the facility as a result of the modification and by all parties that directly benefit from the modification." Indeed, utility poles have finite lives, and even in the absence of attachers that lease space the owners eventually incur costs to replace old po. [...] The aim of the objective formula should be to produce a consistent calculation of the amount of direct benefits conferred on utility pole owners from pole replacements – an amount that should be subtracted from the total costs of pole replacements in order to establish the share of replacement costs to be paid by new attachers. [...] Recognition that owners ought to share in the costs of replacing their poles is consistent with §1.1408(b) of the Commission's rules, which provides: "The costs of modifying a facility shall be borne by all parties that obtain access to the facility as a result of the modification and by all parties that directly benefit from the modification."11 Utility poles have finite lives, and even in the ab.

Authors

andrewmagloughlin@gmail.com

Pages
8
Published in
United States of America