Broadband Breakfast on April 8, 2026 - Pole Attachments and Rights-of-Way

Highlight Reel

Full Video

Pole attachments and right-of-way access remain among the most contentious bottlenecks in America's fiber deployment push, with attachment fees, make-ready delays, and municipal permitting processes adding months—sometimes years—to broadband buildout timelines. As states accelerate BEAD program implementation, disputes between competitive carriers and incumbent utilities over pole access rates and “one touch make ready” policies have intensified. Local governments are grappling with public safety and revenue generation against closing the connectivity gap, and utilities argue that attachment rates must reflect the true costs of infrastructure maintenance, and liability.

Pole Attachment Disputes Over Costs, Timelines and Safety at Broadband Breakfast Event

Industry officials clashed over pole replacement costs, make-ready timelines, and federal regulatory authority.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast

Panelists

• Ryan Kudera, Manager, Client Services, Finley USA
• Steve Morris, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, NCTA
• Brian O'Hara, Senior Director Regulatory Affairs – Telecommunications & Broadband,  National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
• Michael Santorelli, Director, Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP)
• Nirali Patel, Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Legal Affairs, USTelecom
• Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

With over 28 years of experience in the telecom industry, Ryan Kudera brings deep expertise across the broadband andenergy sectors. His background spans field operations,instruction, economic development, regulatory policy, andfinance.

Steve Morris is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association (NCTA).  In that role, he represents the cable industry on a wide range of matters related to the regulation of broadband and voice services.  Mr. Morris joined NCTA in 2006. Prior to joining NCTA, Mr. Morris worked in the Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission, at a provider of fiber optic network facilities, and at two Washington, D.C., law firms. Mr. Morris received a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.

Brian O'Hara joined NRECA in October 2017 as Senior Director Regulatory Affairs focusing on telecommunications and broadband issues. In this position, he develops and directs association regulatory policy on telecom and broadband issues for over 900 electric cooperatives, many of whom are offering, deploying or exploring broadband business opportunities.  Brian has more than 20 years of telecommunications and broadband industry experience. He previously worked for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, and the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA). Brian went to St. Mary's College of Maryland for undergrad and Johns Hopkins University for a master’s in government.

As Director of the ACLP, Michael Santorelli oversees the program’s examination of the legal, regulatory, and public policy issues impacting the deployment and adoption of broadband and other advanced communications technologies at the local, state, and federal levels. He is regularly sought out by policymakers for objective input on broadband planning issues and has served on the New York State Broadband Task Force, the FCC’s Overcoming State and Local Barriers to Broadband Deployment Working Group, and the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee. Immediately prior to joining the ACLP, Michael was the lead staff member for the New York City Council’s Committee on Technology.

Nirali Patel is Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Legal Affairs and General Counsel for USTelecom – The Broadband Association, where she leads the organization’s advocacy before regulatory agencies and in the courts.  She joined USTelecom from Comcast Corporation, where she held positions as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Vice President of Global Public Policy.  Nirali previously served in several roles at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Wireline Advisor and Special Counsel to Chairman Ajit Pai and Legal Advisor to then-Commissioner Brendan Carr.  Before joining the FCC, Nirali practiced communications law at Hogan Lovells, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and Sidley Austin. 

Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing tool to collect and verify broadband data left unpublished by the Federal Communications Commission. As CEO and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media community advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.

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