Comcast Files Pole Attachment Complaint Against Appalachian Power
Appalachian Power Co. is denying Comcast access to its poles that have preexisting safety violations unless Comcast pays for replacing the pole, Comcast told the FCC in a pole attachment complaint posted Wednesday. Comcast said it needs access to thousands…
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of Appalachian power poles for its network expansion work in Virginia, including bringing connectivity to 13,000 BEAD-funded locations in the state. It said Appalachian has adopted a policy where Comcast must pay the total cost of replacing the preexisting violation pole, "with, at best, the potential for a 50% reimbursement at the whim of the preexisting violator." That's despite FCC rules saying pole owners can't charge new attachers the cost of addressing preexisting violations of safety or construction standards or delay new attachers while the pole owner tries to fix the preexisting violation or seek reimbursement from the preexisting violator. Appalachian didn't comment.