They are so numerous that there is one for every two people living in the United States. They line the streets of urban and suburban neighborhoods, dot the rural countryside, and can be the sole sign of a connection to civilization along desolate, deserted roadways. They are so ubiquitous that, despite their imposing height, they go largely unnoticed. But now, they have become one of the greatest stumbling blocks to universal, affordable broadband access for Americans.
Utility poles have provided American homes in densely and sparsely populated areas with electricity and telephone service for generations. Now, those same poles hold the promise of extending another household essential, affordable broadband, to those same homes. But instead of delivering a ready and cost-effective solution, the poles – or, more precisely, some of their owners – are proving to be an obstacle.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program has $42 billion to invest in expanding access to broadband. The simplest and most efficient way to complete the mission is to allow internet service providers access to utility poles. But with tax dollars in the mix, some of the owners of utility poles – particularly municipalities and electric co-ops – are seeking exorbitant premiums from internet service providers.
Since government has, unintentionally, provided a potential windfall for some utility pole owners, governments – both federal and state – need to act to ensure the BEAD program delivers on its intended mission. Having enacted BEAD, Congress should act to require the streamlining of what has become a cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly process for internet service providers to gain access to these poles. Deadlines need to replace “negotiated timelines.”
Addressing the challenges posed by municipalities and co-ops practicing legalized (and incentivized) price gouging, federal regulators should apply the pole access rules required of investor-owned utilities to those owned by municipalities and co-ops. With these two simple fixes – placing time and cost restraints – the promise of the BEAD program could be fulfilled faster and cheaper.
State governments, too, can help alleviate the problem. Understanding that universal broadband access is essential to their economies and quality of life, many states have already enacted laws and regulations to ensure fair and affordable access to utility poles. The sooner all states act to ensure pole access, the sooner broadband access becomes truly universal.
There’s a lot on the line here. It is understandable that ensuring affordable access for all Americans has become a priority as broadband has become a necessity, Now, poles that go largely unnoticed as we pass by them on the road may delay that access for millions. If government acts to ensure fairness, this costly problem will be avoided.
