Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

09/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2024 13:29

PUC Moves to Support Accelerated Broadband Deployment Across Pennsylvania by Adopting New Federal Pole Attachment Regulations

PUC Moves to Support Accelerated Broadband Deployment Across Pennsylvania by Adopting New Federal Pole Attachment Regulations

Published on 9/26/2024

Filed under: Telecommunications

New Rules Cut Dispute Resolution Timelines over Pole Attachments, Supporting Faster Broadband Rollout Across the State

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved the adoption of two new federal regulations designed to expedite broadband deployment across the Commonwealth, ensuring that unserved and underserved communities gain quicker access to critical high-speed internet services.

The Commission voted 4-1 in favor of a motion offered by PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank, to adopt a pair of recent federal regulations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) focused on disputes between the owners of utility poles and entities seeking to attach infrastructure to those poles and sharing cyclical pole inspection reports. The new FCC regulations became effective at the federal level on July 25, 2024.

"The adoption of these FCC regulations will help expedite the ongoing efforts to ensure Pennsylvanians, particularly in rural and underserved areas, receive the broadband services they need for education, healthcare, economic development, and more," said PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. "By streamlining dispute resolution and increasing transparency, we are reducing barriers to broadband deployment and ensuring that infrastructure investments can be made swiftly and effectively."

The first regulation mandates that utility pole owners share recent inspection reports with companies seeking to attach to their poles. This measure promotes transparency, avoids wasteful expenditures, and increases efficiencies in the broadband deployment process.

The second regulation adopts the Federal Communications Commission's new regulations that help expedite resolving disputes between pole owners and attachers. Under this accelerated process, complaint proceedings must be resolved within 60 days-significantly reducing the current timeframe under existing PUC rules.

The PUC also encourages stakeholders to use the Commission's mediation unit as an alternative to formal complaints, further expediting the deployment of broadband services across Pennsylvania.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

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Docket No.: L-2018-3002672

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