Competitive providers get creative in local permitting processes

Every service provider, whether it be a traditional ILEC or a competitive provider, continues to find that the largest challenges lie in dealing with state and local government agencies and gaining utility rights-of-way along existing aerial poles.

A group of competitive providers -- including FirstLight Fiber, Fibertech and FiberLight -- addressed these issues during a Comptel Plus trade show panel called "Fiber, Fiber Everywhere: The Intersection of Industry Government and Policy." One of the most common issues is dealing with the "make ready" process to gain access to utility poles. Timelines to get through the make ready process vary from 180 days up to a year, a major barrier that often holds up the buildout of network facilities.