Google Fiber Disputes CWA Assertions OTMR Led to 'Dangerous Mistakes' by Contractors
Google Fiber disagreed with Communications Workers of America that one-touch, make-ready pole-attachment procedures in Louisville led to "dangerous mistakes" by contractors (see 1805250014). "CWA echoes the unsubstantiated claims made by Comcast, Charter, and NCTA ... by similarly failing to show…
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that the errors depicted in the photographs attached to their ex parte notice were the result of OTMR or even caused by the use of third party contractors," filed Google, posted Tuesday in docket 17-84. "That, at some point, errors were made by someone in performing make-ready work does not implicate the safety and efficiency of a well-structured OTMR regime." CWA argues the risks "can only be resolved by allowing existing attachers to self-perform simple make-ready before a new attacher has the opportunity to undertake OTMR. But this argument does not follow," Google said. "Allowing self-performance would do nothing more than undermine the entire purpose of OTMR -- which is to increase safety and improve efficiency by reducing unnecessary trips to the pole that increase risks to people and property, create unneeded disruption to streets and sidewalks, and impose excessive and unpredictable costs on new competitive entrants." It said the organization's concerns are best addressed by requiring pole-owner OK of contractors, with input from existing attachers, as proposed by the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. The union didn't comment Wednesday.