DC, Maine Wrapping Up Pole-Attachment Rulemakings; Vermont Seeks Comment

The D.C. Public Service Commission will soon finalize updated pole-attachment rules, PSC External Affairs Office Director Cary Hinton emailed Tuesday. The PSC received no comments due Monday on an Aug. 30 notice of proposed rulemaking in docket RM162019-01-M. Comcast protested an earlier version of the proposal to repeal and replace Chapter 16 of Title 15 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations on pole-attachment disputes between public utilities and cable operators (see 1907090013). The PSC added some provisions specifically for cable operators’ use of utility facilities, plus a definition for pole attachment, the Aug. 30 notice said. The Maine Public Utilities Commission hopes to wrap up its own pole-attachment rates rulemaking (see 1907120047) by the end of this month, a PUC spokesperson emailed. Staff said in June the next and third phase of the proceeding will mainly be to adopt one-touch, make ready, and possibly to create a statewide pole-attachments database (see 1906190051). Meanwhile, the Vermont Public Utility Commission sought comment on its own pole-attachment regulations in a notice (requires password) last week in docket 19-02520-RULE. The agency plans hearings Oct. 23 and Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m., it said. Vermont’s proposed rules, which include a one-touch, make-ready option for attachments, are “along the lines of FCC make ready rules,” emailed cable lawyer Alan Mandl of Ferriter Scobbo. An older proceeding to update pole-attachment rates (see 1811060028) remains open. “Earlier this year a law was enacted which requires the PUC to issue a decision in June 2020,” said Mandl, who represents the CLEC association whose petition opened the proceeding. “The last unofficial word was not to expect any activity until 2020.”