FCC Acts to Reduce Costs and Speed Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure
On August 3, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) adopted rules to streamline the process of attaching telecommunications infrastructure to utility poles, ducts, conduits and rights of way (“pole attachments”). The FCC’s Order adopted new federal “one-touch make-ready” or “OTMR” rules for simple attachments in the communications space of the pole and new rules for non-OTMR attachments, including complex attachments and attachments above the communications space. Further, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling preempting state and local moratoria on new infrastructure and service deployment. The FCC’s actions should expedite the process and reduce the costs of deploying broadband infrastructure, including fiber deployments, 5G wireless services and small cell networks.
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