Enabling competition from Google Fiber means FCC must reconsider pole attachment pricing

[Commentary] Google Fiber's plans to bring its 1 Gbps service into Salt Lake City (UT) and Nashville (TN) by using existing utility poles in each city not only sheds light on its ongoing buildout strategy, but also shows how important access to utility poles at reasonable rates is key to expanding broadband services. In Salt Lake City, Google will deploy 600 miles of fiber, which will be attached to more than 20,000 utility poles which will then be attached to a point of presence on the ring. The Nashville fiber deployment will have a similar configuration as Salt Lake City, with some differences. It plans to deploy 3,200 miles of fiber, install 18 fiber huts, and attach fiber to at least 100,000 utility poles. While the service provider did not reveal the terms of the agreements, the Internet company has cited gaining rights of way to utility poles as a key issue in what cities it will target with its 1 Gbps service.

Despite the challenges service providers face, industry associations are working to ensure the FCC is paying attention. COMPTEL, the advocacy group for competitive providers, recently filed a joint petition with Level 3 Communications asking the FCC resolve the lingering issue over pole attachment rates for cable and telecom providers. The two commenters asked the FCC to grant the pending petition for reconsideration of the regulator's 2011 Pole Attachment Order. While the FCC has a lot on its plate in 2015, including court challenges to its new net neutrality rules and a host of multibillion-dollar acquisitions to review, if they're serious about driving competition they need to make the pole attachment issue a priority.