pete_c
Guru
Google Fiber, Comcast, Bicker Over Utility Poles in Nashville
by Karl Bode
Friday Jul 29 2016 16:20 EDT
Google Fiber is preparing for another standoff, this time in Nashville, against incumbent ISPs unhappy with the threat of added competition. You'll recall that AT&T recently sued the city of Louisville for its decision to pass "one touch make ready" utility pole attachment rules. Such rules allow an insured, agreed upon third-party contractor move any ISPs' gear on the pole, dramatically reducing the time it takes to get fiber deployed. Google supports such an idea and incumbent ISPs, for obvious reasons, do not.
With Google Fiber's deployment in Louisville on hold, the same argument is starting to unfold in Nashville, where the city began considering similar rules this week.
While the rules benefit everybody, incumbent ISPs have no such need of such rules, since they often own the poles and already have networks in place. ISPs have long been accused of using such rules to bog competitors trying to enter a market down in bureaucratic red tape.
To stop rules streamlining this log jam, large ISPs have gone so far as to try and argue that the rules violate ISPs' Constitutional rights. In Nashville, both AT&T and Comcast are fighting the reform, claiming, (ironically, if you know either company) that they're just looking out for unions and are sticklers for the rules.
“While we have not seen the proposed ordinance, we are concerned that a make-ready ordinance would interfere with our contractual commitment to have our skilled employees represented by the Communications Workers of America perform make-ready work on our behalf,” says AT&T Tennessee spokesperson Joe Burgan.
"Beyond that, we have serious concerns with other companies being allowed to perform work on our facilities without providing us notice, which could put service reliability and public safety at risk in some circumstances," AT&T added. "Additionally, jurisdiction to regulate pole attachments rests with the FCC, and municipalities have no authority under federal or state law to enact the ordinance being proposed here.”
That would be the same FCC that AT&T usually is busy claiming has absolutely no authority over the company. Comcast, also obviously not keen to see consumers access cheaper, faster broadband alternatives (especially in its capped Southern markets, wants the entire thing thrown back to committee for further study, however long that would take.
“We believe that the appropriate next step would be to conduct a meeting of the stakeholders — including AT&T, Comcast, Google Fiber, NES and Public Works — to review the make-ready and permit process and discuss areas for improvement,” says Sara Jo Walker, a Southern regional spokesperson for Comcast. “This should be accomplished prior to any proposed legislation.”
Google Fiber, in contrast, states that updated pole attachment regulations will help the company deploy competition more quickly, and more safely.
“By embracing a one-touch make ready policy, Nashville is taking a significant step to bringing faster, better broadband to its residents,” says Amol Naik, Google Fiber’s Southeast region head of public policy. “Such policies can simplify and expedite a big infrastructure effort like Google Fiber, reducing community disruption and promoting public safety.”
by Karl Bode
Friday Jul 29 2016 16:20 EDT
Google Fiber is preparing for another standoff, this time in Nashville, against incumbent ISPs unhappy with the threat of added competition. You'll recall that AT&T recently sued the city of Louisville for its decision to pass "one touch make ready" utility pole attachment rules. Such rules allow an insured, agreed upon third-party contractor move any ISPs' gear on the pole, dramatically reducing the time it takes to get fiber deployed. Google supports such an idea and incumbent ISPs, for obvious reasons, do not.With Google Fiber's deployment in Louisville on hold, the same argument is starting to unfold in Nashville, where the city began considering similar rules this week.
While the rules benefit everybody, incumbent ISPs have no such need of such rules, since they often own the poles and already have networks in place. ISPs have long been accused of using such rules to bog competitors trying to enter a market down in bureaucratic red tape.
To stop rules streamlining this log jam, large ISPs have gone so far as to try and argue that the rules violate ISPs' Constitutional rights. In Nashville, both AT&T and Comcast are fighting the reform, claiming, (ironically, if you know either company) that they're just looking out for unions and are sticklers for the rules.
“While we have not seen the proposed ordinance, we are concerned that a make-ready ordinance would interfere with our contractual commitment to have our skilled employees represented by the Communications Workers of America perform make-ready work on our behalf,” says AT&T Tennessee spokesperson Joe Burgan.
"Beyond that, we have serious concerns with other companies being allowed to perform work on our facilities without providing us notice, which could put service reliability and public safety at risk in some circumstances," AT&T added. "Additionally, jurisdiction to regulate pole attachments rests with the FCC, and municipalities have no authority under federal or state law to enact the ordinance being proposed here.”
That would be the same FCC that AT&T usually is busy claiming has absolutely no authority over the company. Comcast, also obviously not keen to see consumers access cheaper, faster broadband alternatives (especially in its capped Southern markets, wants the entire thing thrown back to committee for further study, however long that would take.
“We believe that the appropriate next step would be to conduct a meeting of the stakeholders — including AT&T, Comcast, Google Fiber, NES and Public Works — to review the make-ready and permit process and discuss areas for improvement,” says Sara Jo Walker, a Southern regional spokesperson for Comcast. “This should be accomplished prior to any proposed legislation.”
Google Fiber, in contrast, states that updated pole attachment regulations will help the company deploy competition more quickly, and more safely.
“By embracing a one-touch make ready policy, Nashville is taking a significant step to bringing faster, better broadband to its residents,” says Amol Naik, Google Fiber’s Southeast region head of public policy. “Such policies can simplify and expedite a big infrastructure effort like Google Fiber, reducing community disruption and promoting public safety.”
