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BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE: POLES, ROW

State and Local Government Webinar (FCC) Oct. 5, 2011. BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE: POLES, ROW. Broadband Acceleration. April 7, 2011 Open Meeting Items Pole Attachments Order (FCC 11-50) Accelerating Broadband Deployment Notice of Inquiry (FCC 11-51) Comments in Docket No. 11-59

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BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE: POLES, ROW

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  1. State and Local Government Webinar (FCC) Oct. 5, 2011 BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE: POLES, ROW

  2. BroadbandAcceleration • April 7, 2011 Open Meeting Items • Pole Attachments Order (FCC 11-50) • Accelerating Broadband Deployment • Notice of Inquiry (FCC 11-51) • Comments in Docket No. 11-59 • Reply Comments filed Sept. 30, 2011

  3. Objective → Promote Further Build-out of Broadband Infrastructure Access: - Establish timeline for access to utility poles. Rates: - Should be low, and as close to uniform as possible (consistent with the statute) Enforcement: - Strengthen enforcement with several reforms. Pole Attachments Order – April 7, 2011

  4. ACCESS • 4-Stage Timeline in Response to Request for Access: (1) Survey; (2) Estimate; (3) Acceptance; (4) Make-Ready • Attachers may hire outside contractors if Survey or Make-Ready deadlines missed by utility pole owner. • Safety Precautions: • Use “utility-approved” contractors only. • Utilities may monitor contractor work. • Contractors hired by attachers for this purpose work only in the “communications space” on a pole.

  5. RATES • Different rate formulas apply to attachments by cable TV providers and telecommunications carriers by statute. • Order interprets term “cost” in telecom formula to signify a range of reasonable allocations from “full” to “incremental.” • Cable rate is the floor. • Rate for attachments by telecommunications companies at or near cable rate.

  6. ENFORCEMENT • Parties must hold “executive level discussions” before filing a complaint, thus encouraging negotiated resolution of disputes. • Incumbent LECs may file complaint (e.g., against an electric utility) if attachment rates, terms, and conditions are not just and reasonable. • Eliminates “back payments” cap on penalties for unauthorized attachments.

  7. WIRELESS • Establishes timeline for wireless attachments, including those on pole tops. • Bans blanket denials of pole-top access. • Reaffirms that cost-based rate applies to antennas and other wireless attachments.

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  9. BroadbandAcceleration NOI – April 7, 2011 • Notice of Inquiry on Rights of Way and Facilities Siting (WC Docket No. 11-59) • More than 150 comments • 2000+ pages • How can the FCC work with other government entities (including federal) to improve policies governing access to physical spaces where wired and wireless broadband infrastructure can be deployed?

  10. BACKGROUND • National Broadband Plan (2010) - Concluded that access to rights of way significantly impacts broadband deployment. • Broadband Acceleration Conference (February 2011) – Brought together leaders from federal and local government, electric utilities, carriers and tower companies to identify ways to foster broadband deployment, which can serve as foundation for future economic growth.

  11. NOTICE OF INQUIRY • Concerns key challenges and best practices for expanding reach and reducing cost of broadband deployment and examining federal, Tribal, state, and local government policies for access to rights of way and wireless facilities siting • Comment sought on broad range of issues related to access to rights of way and wireless facilities siting in relation to broadband deployment • Comment also sought on range of possible actions FCC might take to reduce burdens or facilitate broadband deployment • Seeking out data – with opportunity for all interested parties to respond – before taking any action

  12. COMMENT SOUGHT: • Timing and ease of permitting processes • Reasonableness of charges • Extent to which ordinances or statutes have been updated to reflect current communications technologies (e.g., DAS) or innovative deployment practices • Concrete evidence of discriminatory/differential treatment, examples of streamlined practices • Consistencies and differences among jurisdictions • Other concerns, including “third tier” regulation or requirements that cover matters not directly related to ROW use or wireless facilities siting

  13. POSSIBLE FCC ACTIONS TO ADDRESS • Develop and promote best practices and increased uniformity of governmental policies for access to public rights of way and wireless facilities siting • Make specific recommendations for action to Congress and Administration • Sponsor voluntary mediation of public ROW or wireless facilities siting disputes between state or local officials and industry • Adopt policy guidelines/rules or adjudicate rights of way cases

  14. CURRENT STATUS • Comments filed by July 18, 2011. • Reply Comments filed by September 30, 2011. • Staff is reviewing the record and developing recommendations for future action.

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