• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure

These New Rules Are Opening Utility Poles Up to Everyone

The Federal Communications Commission’s new rules – One Touch Make Ready – let businesses handle their own electrical wires on utility poles.

August 20, 2018 Jessica Messier Leave a Comment

Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved new rules that could let internet service providers (ISPs) gain access faster to utility poles, reports ArsTechnica.

The new rules, called One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) rules, will enable companies to connect their wires to utility poles without having to wait for other users to move their own wires. Some companies, including Google Fiber, are jumping on the OTMR band wagon because some current pole users, like Comcast and AT&T, take too long to prepare their wire for new users.

“Previously, existing pole users had to perform make-ready work within 60 days (or within 90 days for work on the upper parts of a pole),” ArtTechnica says. “Those timelines are being shortened to 30 days and 60 days. If existing pole users don’t meet their deadlines, new attachers will be allowed to perform all the work themselves.”

OMTR also might be starting to play a major role in speeding the deployment of cellular broadband. This is because carriers want to put small cells on utility poles as they upgrade from 4G to 5G.

Too Good to be True?

Before decision makers start preparing to anchor their company’s wires into utility poles, ArsTechnica covers a couple of downsides to the new rules. To start, OTMR rules will only affect privately-owned poles, as opposed to poles owned by municipalities and cooperatives.

OTMR rules will also not apply to states that have opted out of “the federal regime” and use their own ways to regulate pole attachments: “Twenty states and Washington, DC, have previously opted out of the federal pole-attachment rules, while pole attachments in the other 30 states are governed by FCC rules,” according to ArsTechnica.

Plus, the FCC is adopting these new rules for “simple attachments;” the “old process” will still be followed for more “complex” attachments, “are likely to cause outages or damages.”

As a result, decision makers who are looking to join the OTMR party should consider the rules carefully, and troubleshoot how adding new wires might help – or hurt – their business. Decision makers might also consider how their company’s wires will be affected if other businesses or startups follow the new rules, especially if they are already attached to utility poles. Will those companies cause outages for your business? What competition will you be up against? Doing research, and keeping tabs on OTMR developments can help businesses stay on top of potential problems, and even get ahead, especially as we move closer to the age of 5G.

Tagged With: Cabling, Network Implementation, Utilities

Related Content:

  • Owl Labs Bar Owl Labs Releases Owl Bar to Pair With…
  • ChatGPT, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence, AI development Pump the Brakes on AI Development, Tech and…
  • Barracuda networks ransomware, cyberinurance Ransomware Actors May Be Targeting Organizations With Cyber…
  • Bitwarden Secrets manager Bitwarden Releases Beta of Secrets Manager for DevOps…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Four IT Trends That Will Define 2023Expert Series: Four IT Trends That Will Define 2023

    Learn about four key technologies we identified as critical to your IT organization’s success in 2023, as well as how to invest in new innovations emerging from each.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

Four IT Trends That Will Define 2023
Expert Series: Four IT Trends That Will Define 2023

Learn about four key technologies we identified as critical to your IT organization’s success in 2023, as well as how to invest in new innovations ...

Harnessing the Power of Digital Signage
Harnessing the Power of Digital Signage

Choosing the best solutions for messaging, branding, and communicating in today’s content-everywhere landscape

Blueprint Series Cover: What works for hybrid work
Blueprint Series: What Works for Hybrid Work

Download this free resource to learn about how IT leaders can effectively manage and implement a hybrid work model.

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!
Sharp Microsoft Collaboration HQ Logo

Learn More About the
Windows Collaboration Display

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Media Solutions & Advertising
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2023 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.