Gigapower, South Carolina City Resolve FCC Pole Dispute
Settlement avoids potential federal ruling on broadband deployment barriers.
Settlement avoids potential federal ruling on broadband deployment barriers.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2026 – This pole attachment battle will not go the distance at the Federal Communications Commission.
Gigapower and the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, have resolved a dispute over broadband infrastructure access, prompting the FCC to dismiss the case before issuing a ruling.
Gigapower had filed a petition in December asking the FCC to intervene in a disagreement with the city, arguing that local restrictions were hindering its ability to deploy broadband infrastructure. The company sought a preemption ruling under Section 253(d) of the Communications Act, which allows the FCC to override state or local regulations that may block telecommunications services.
The case for data centers rests on meaningful tax revenue, durable jobs, grid investment and the digital infrastructure that lets rural communities share in the AI economy.
The lawmaker’s bill would allow broadband projects to bypass some environmental and historical reviews.
The state says 30,000 locations are expected to remain unserved after federal deployments finish.
Gigabit subscriptions have grown fivefold since 2020 as network investment surge.