Delays in approvals for utility pole installations continue to limit the speed at which people can access high-speed internet.
Rural Loudoun County, Virginia, was scheduled to have 620 miles of fiber-optic cable installed by July, but the project is far behind schedule and funding is set to expire in 2026. mirror of loudon times.
Internet service provider All Point Broadband and utility company Dominion Energy are responsible for constructing the project, but the report says the poles’ “preparation and installation process remains the biggest challenge to the project schedule.” There is.”
The partnership in Virginia offers a glimpse into a problem seen across the country, one of the less talked about hurdles in rolling out more internet services to more people. In many regions, old utility poles are often the center of discussion between internet service providers and power companies. The two companies frequently disagree over how much replacement work will cost and who will pay for it.
The utility claims that without the cable company’s accessories, there is no cost. Cable companies argue that states should put money into funds like the Broadband Equity Access Deployment (BEAD) program for application elsewhere.
In December, the Federal Communications Commission created a division to help resolve disputes between cable providers and power companies. The Rapid Broadband Assessment Team (RBAT) is comprised of staff from the FCC’s Bureau of Enforcement and the Bureau of Wireline Competition.
Meanwhile, Loudoun County officials say the project is “on track” to be completed by July, but the report says officials are skeptical because construction has not yet begun.
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