A newly released report from The Pew Charitable Trusts sheds light on a major obstacle slowing the expansion of high-speed internet in the United States: the complicated and costly process of attaching broadband infrastructure to utility poles. The report, which examines the challenges facing federally funded broadband projects, warns that delays and rising costs tied to pole attachments could undermine the effectiveness of historic federal investments aimed at closing the digital divide.
The report comes as federal programs such as the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program inject an unprecedented $52 billion into broadband deployment. However, Pew’s research finds that these efforts could be significantly hindered by outdated and inconsistent state and local policies governing pole attachments, creating roadblocks for internet service providers (ISPs) seeking to extend high-speed internet to underserved communities.
Pole Attachments: A Bottleneck in Broadband Deployment
To expand broadband access, ISPs must attach fiber-optic lines to existing utility poles—a process that requires multiple layers of regulatory approvals, cost negotiations, and infrastructure upgrades. Pew’s report identifies key issues that delay broadband deployment, including:
- Lengthy Permit Approvals: Getting approval to attach broadband lines to poles can take months or even years, delaying critical projects.
- High and Unpredictable Costs: The cost of attaching lines to poles varies widely, and pole owners often require ISPs to cover expensive pole replacements, significantly increasing project costs.
- Limited Oversight and Transparency: Many states lack standardized data on pole attachments, making it difficult to track progress and resolve disputes between ISPs and pole owners.
State-Level Solutions to Accelerate Broadband Expansion
To address these challenges, Pew recommends that states take the following actions:
- Increase Data Transparency: Standardizing data collection on pole ownership, costs, and timelines would help public agencies make informed funding and regulatory decisions.
- Digitize and Streamline Permitting: Many local permitting systems are outdated and slow. Modernizing them with digital tools would reduce unnecessary delays.
- Standardize Costs and Timelines: Establishing clear timelines for pole attachment approvals and cost-sharing rules would eliminate uncertainty and speed up broadband expansion.
- Leverage Infrastructure Investments: States should use federal broadband and disaster mitigation funds to standardize and modernize utility pole infrastructure, ensuring that broadband deployment moves forward without costly interruptions.
Why This Matters Now
The BEAD program requires states to allocate funding within 365 days and complete broadband construction projects within four years. Given these tight deadlines, delays related to pole attachments could cause some states to miss out on federal funding opportunities, leaving rural and underserved communities without access to high-speed internet.
Pew’s report highlights the urgency of addressing these regulatory barriers now. With federal broadband funding available for a limited time, states must act quickly to streamline the permitting process, standardize pole attachment policies, and ensure that broadband providers can build networks efficiently and cost-effectively.
Looking Ahead
As the federal government and states work to deploy broadband infrastructure nationwide, Pew’s findings offer a roadmap for overcoming one of the most persistent challenges in expanding internet access. Policymakers and industry leaders must work together to modernize pole attachment regulations, ensuring that broadband deployment stays on track and reaches the communities that need it most.
