Infrastructure

Experts: BEAD Success Hinges on States Supplementing FCC Pole Rules

Local approaches may resolve cost and delay challenges, experts say.

Jericho Casper

Oct 30, 2024 — 3 min read

Screenshot of the FCBA panel: Top row, from left: Abram Shanedling, senior associate at Sheppard Mullin, and Alexander Minard, vice president & lead legislative counsel at NCTA. Bottom row, from left: Nirali Patel, senior vice president of policy & advocacy at USTelecom; and Aryeh Fishman, associate general counsel at Edison Electric Institute.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2024 – The success of expanding affordable internet access to all Americans hinges on a behind-the-scenes issue that only industry experts tend to discuss: the challenge of connecting broadband infrastructure to utility poles.

During a panel hosted by the Federal Communications Bar Association on Tuesday, telecom experts cautioned that the ambitious goals of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program could be slowed by the complex, costly, and often unpredictable process of attaching communications cables to utility poles.

Without substantial adjustments to address these obstacles, they warned, the nationwide expansion of affordable internet could fall short of Congress’s four-year timeline.

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Infrastructure FCBA BEAD Congress Alex Minard NCTA Kentucky Connecticut New York Aryeh Fishman Edison Electric Institute FCC Massachusetts GoNetspeed Maria Browne Davis Wright Tremaine LLP nirali patel USTelecom