ACA Calls For Ending Pole Attachment Exemption For Electric Cooperatives, Municipal Utilities

On April 5, the American Cable Association sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission explaining that in many states, ACA member companies are required to pay excessive pole rates to co-ops and municipal utilities, increasing the cost of broadband deployment in small markets and rural areas and imposing a disproportionately negative impact on rural subscribers.

ACA asserted that high pole rates slow the delivery of broadband in sparsely populated rural areas. ACA sent its letter to the FCC in support of 13 state cable associations that gave the FCC a detailed filing on March 18 highlighting the fact that unregulated co-ops and municipal utilities often double and triple their rate schedules and seek compensation that greatly exceeds the level sought by investor-owned utilities subject to federal price caps. The state associations' filing also stated that exempt pole owners receive fair compensation at rate levels far below the actual fees they insist that small cable operators pay.