Marcus Maher, FCC

This session will highlight the main issues raised by the FCC in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Get the inside the beltway view of what this will mean for your utility. Whether it is rate issues or access issues, this session will cover it all.

This session will take a practical view of the issues for processing applications. Are utilities processing applications in a timely manner? What kind of problems are utilities encountering in meeting regulatory deadlines? Find out in this interactive session.

Attachers are looking for ways to avoid make ready and its associated costs and delays. How big is this problem, and what can utilities do to accommodate the needs of attachers for speed to market and reducing operational expenses? This session will take a closer look at what utilities are seeing from ILECs, CLECs and CATV as a matter of practice.

Utilities are reporting that there are many disputes in the field over interpretation of the NESC. This session will look at some of those issues and refer to the 2007 NESC for answers.

As utilities improve their management of the pole attachment process, many are conducting audits and inspections to ensure that attachments are properly licensed and in compliance with engineering requirements. This session will feature vendor-led discussion of their products and services to help utilities maintain control over their infrastructure.

The FCC is proposing one rate for all broadband attachments, and this rate would apply to ILEC, as well as CLEC and CATV attachments. As such, this proposal could dramatically affect cost recovery, not only for regulated pole attachments, but for attachments subject to joint use agreements as well. This session will explore the various possibilities for a broadband attachment rate and make the case for a rate that provides just compensation for pole attachments.

This session will consider possible strategies for changing the rate so that utilities are fairly compensated for pole attachments. Congress, the FCC, and other federal agencies and state public utility commissions all have a stake in the rate that will apply for pole attachments. Find out what options exist for engaging with these legal/regulatory policymakers!

If the FCC establishes a regulated rate for ILEC attachments, what does that mean for joint use agreements with ILECs? Could utilities be left stuck paying ILECs a higher rate for utility attachments on their poles, while ILECs pay a lower regulated rate? If so, what is the overall potential impact of this change? Finally, would these new rates go into effect immediately, or would the joint use agreement remain in effect, and if so, for how long? This session will answer these and other burning questions.

Tom Jobes, Dir.-Distribution System Reliability, American Electric Power

After the FCC started second guessing utility engineering and safety standards for pole attachments, Entergy went to the Arkansas state legislature, which ultimately passed legislation that authorizes the PUC to regulate pole attachments. Other utilities are considering seeking reverse preemption of the FCC’s jurisdiction, as well. This session will discuss one utility’s experience with such an approach.

In Oregon, Portland General Electric discovered widespread unauthorized attachments and code violations during its system wide pole attachment surveys. Find out how many and what PGE did about it during this first-hand account.

Utilities are being approached by a variety of wireless providers seeking access to their distribution poles to mount wireless equipment. Municipal wireless is a key part of this general trend. Find out from leading experts what the issues are and how utilities have been responding to increasing demands for access to utility poles for wireless equipment.