Pole Attachments
Broadband providers that attempt to deploy networks in rural markets often find that the costs of attaching to existing telephone or electric poles are excessively high, making the region uneconomic to serve. The FCC has made progress by adopting policies to promote one-touch-make-ready for wireline and wireless networks, but has not yet adopted guidelines to govern pole replacement costs. Adopting SHLB’s proposed guidelines would reduce the costs and expedite the process of approving pole attachments or pole replacements to address this digital disparity.
Because CAIs are both users and providers of wireless broadband services, SHLB will continue to promote rules that help CAIs take advantage of spectrum opportunities for both licensed (including both shared and exclusive) and unlicensed spectrum in 2023.
SHLB's Advocacy
February 14, 2023
February 13, 2024
December 5, 2023
July 14, 2022
June 27, 2022
March 9, 2022
January 31, 2022
Key Documents
November 2021
CONNECT THE FUTURE RESEARCH
Advancing Pole Attachment Policies to Accelerate National Broadband Buildout
June 2021
SHLB PRIMER
Pole Attachment Principles to Expedite Broadband Deployment to Anchor Institutions and Their Communities
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Upcoming Webinar: Should Congress Repeal the FCC’s E-Rate HotSpot Lending Decision?
SHLB Congressional Fly-In
The SHLB Coalition is organizing a fly-in of SHLB members to support E-rate, the Rural Health Care program and the Universal Service Fund on April 9-11.
AnchorNets 2025
Join us October 29-31 in Arlington VA for our annual AnchorNets conference.