SOC 2 Compliance Matters at Alden – What It Means for Data Security

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 24, 2025
SOC 2 Compliance Matters at Alden – What It Means for Data Security
At Alden Systems, we don't just manage your utility joint use asset data, we safeguard your trust—and we take that responsibility seriously.
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Thinking Big & Bold in Utility Joint Use Asset Management

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 11, 2025
The 2025 Alden Conference opened with a spirited welcome from CEO John Sciarabba that did more than just kick off the event. ...
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How to Effectively Manage Utility Pole Transfers with Alden ONE

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 05, 2025
Utility poles are replaced with new ones for a variety of reasons, including scenarios when an existing pole doesn't have ...
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Alden ONE & Trico Electric Cooperative: Improving Collaboration in Utility Joint Use Management

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 19, 2024
On November 7, 2024, Alden Systems and Trico Electric Cooperative co-hosted a regional Utility Joint Use Summit in Marana, ...
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Alden ONE Dashboard Enhancements Jump-Start Joint Use Data Visibility

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 08, 2024
Without advanced solutions, tracking the status of scheduled or in-progress joint use work can be a cosmic nightmare for ...
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Alden's Joint Use Glossary Uncomplicates the Complex Utility Industry

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 10, 2024
It’s no surprise that utility professionals may occasionally get their wires crossed when discussing joint use asset ...
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Key Technology to Streamline Utility Pole Inspections & Field Audits

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 27, 2024
For electric power, communications, and broadband providers, ensuring customers have the uninterrupted service and coverage ...
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Powering a Better Utility Attachment Permitting Process with Alden ONE

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 17, 2024
For utility pole owners and third parties wishing to attach equipment to those assets, the utility attachment permitting ...
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That's a Wrap: 2024 Alden Conference Brings Utility Pros Together for Joint Use Collaboration

Posted by Ashley Little on May 22, 2024
The energy was electric (pun intended) at the recent 2024 Alden Conference, where the team behind Alden ONE, the joint use ...
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Alden ONE & Greeneville Energy Authority: A Perfect Partnership for Joint Use Violation Management

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 09, 2024
How can municipal power systems make sense of their field asset data to proactively address utility joint use issues? ...
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The Electric Cooperative Industry: Alden ONE Meets Joint Use Challenges 

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 05, 2024
Roy M. Palk, who has worked with electric cooperatives since 1970, is enthusiastic about the opportunities in the rapidly ...
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Take Control of Violations & Utility Data Management with Alden ONE

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 20, 2024
Utility asset owners and asset attachers face pressing violation management challenges due to the growing demand for ...
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Electric Co-ops & Alden ONE: A Winning Combination for Joint Use Collaboration

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 30, 2024
It’s a new year with a familiar story for utility joint use asset management. Asset-owning electric utilities and attaching ...
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Standardize Processes with Alden ONE Activities and Workflows

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 09, 2024
Alden ONE is a web-based, cloud-hosted platform that supports all types of utility assets, including distribution poles, ...
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What’s New in Alden ONE – 2023 Roundup of Features & Enhancements

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 05, 2023
In 2023, our team released many Alden ONE enhancements aimed at delivering a superior, more efficient user experience. We ...
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Alden ONE: Contracts & Billing Create Transparency, Automate Progress 

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 28, 2023
By connecting utility asset owners, attachers, and engineering and construction firms, Alden ONE helps to streamline and ...
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A Deep Dive into how Alden ONE’s Data Lake Empowers Analytics

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 14, 2023
Part two of Alden Systems' series on “The Value of the Alden ONE Data Lake for Joint Use Asset Management.” Read the first ...
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Track Streetlight Assets in Alden ONE

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 31, 2023
In response to requests from our users, it’s now possible to track and manage the attributes of streetlights through ...
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Alden ONE: Joint Use Asset Management Drives Clarity & Collaboration

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 24, 2023
Managing utility infrastructure assets comes with inherent challenges. Often, utility networks consist of multiple smaller ...
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Alden ONE: How Joint Use Software Turns Your Data into Action

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 10, 2023
Behind-the-scenes heroes power our nation's critical utility joint use infrastructure. Utility asset owners, engineering ...
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Capture, Share, Act: Task Agent App Moves You in the Right Direction

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 26, 2023
The increased demand for fiber rollout keeps driving competition in the utility space, underscoring the need for the utmost ...
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Alden Names Tom Brandewie Senior Director of Sales

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 12, 2023
Alden Systems is pleased to introduce Tom Brandewie as our newly appointed Senior Director of Sales! In a recent interview, ...
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Overcome the Problem of Disparate Utility Data Collection & Reporting

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 05, 2023
Two challenges are converging in the utility industry. With the massive growth in the volume of attachment requests driven ...
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Overcome Challenges Presented by the Flood of Attachment Requests

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 08, 2023
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The Alden ONE Data Lake: What are the Benefits for Utility Companies?

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 11, 2023
Part one of a series titled "The Value of the Alden ONE Data Lake for Joint Use Asset Management." Read the second article ...
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Joint Use Collaboration: Lessons From the 2023 Alden Conference

Posted by Ashley Little on May 23, 2023
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Henry Ford.
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Alden Systems’ User Conference Insights: Top 3 Changes to Prepare for

Posted by Ashley Little on May 02, 2023
Could agility be the single most important quality you’ll need for success in the joint use industry today? Alden Systems ...
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RDOF Funding Updates: Insights into How the FCC is Proceeding

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 04, 2022
This article is the second in a series that examines the progress of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auctions — with ...
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RDOF Funding: A Review of Auction Results and Progress

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 20, 2022
This article is the first in a series that examines the progress of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auctions — with ...
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3 Challenges of Fiber Deployment and How to Improve the Process

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 19, 2022
Consumers are eagerly awaiting the next step in broadband technology: 5G. With an explosion of small cell and fiber ...
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Inside the Alden Conference: Real Talk with Utility Professionals

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 27, 2022
What happens when you gather together with joint use professionals and utility industry leaders and give them an open forum ...
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How Cross-Team Collaboration Helps to Meet 5G Rollout Timelines

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 19, 2022
Alden Systems’ CEO explains why a team mindset is the best approach to a demanding deployment schedule and how the right ...
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6 Ways Business Automation Software Breaks Down Silos for 5G Providers

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 25, 2022
Despite some speedbumps laid by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the rollout of 5G wireless service continues across the ...
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How Tech Drives Efficiencies to Meet 5G Rollout Timelines

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 11, 2022
When it comes to the fast-paced utility and telecommunications deployments needed to meet the 5G rollout timeline, every ...
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How an Asset Management Platform Can Help Your 5G Rollout Timeline

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 14, 2021
Data management, permitting, and internal and external communications become less daunting with the right technological tools
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5 Steps to Leverage Data for Broadband Deployment Challenges with ISE

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 26, 2021
Leverage your resources to take advantage of 5G market demands.
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Harnessing the Power of Data to Drive Better Decisions

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 12, 2021
In modern asset management, time is money. Whether a company’s assets are utility poles or cell towers, many costs—such as ...
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Alden CEO Shares Insights in ISE's Podcast on Becoming a 5G Leader

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 28, 2021
Overcome the lack of resources with these key steps that drive efficiency Service providers are facing an incredible ...
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Where We Are Now: The Status  and  Deployment  of 5G  Explained

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 14, 2021
When 5G wireless service appeared in the first few US markets more than two years ago, it arrived on a wave of anticipation. ...
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How  Data Will  Drive the  Future of AI in  Asset  Management

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 24, 2021
In simpler times, joint use asset management for a utility or communications company wasn’t so daunting. It was important ...
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AGL Highlights Alden CEO John Sciarabba’s June AGL Summit Talk

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 10, 2021
Learn Why Driving Operational Efficiencies Is Essential to Increasing ROI at the Tower Alden Systems CEO John Sciarabba ...
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Remote Sensing Technology: 5 Things  to  Understand

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 27, 2021
Although remote sensing has been around in some form for many decades, this technology has emerged as one of the most ...
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Network Densification & the Joint Use Industry

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 13, 2021
A couple of years into the deployment of 5G technology many asset owners, including utilities and municipal governments, ...
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Closing the Digital Divide: How FCC Regulations Impact  Broadband

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 29, 2021
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that at the beginning of 2021, at least 3.8 million households with school-aged children ...
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How Increased Demand for Fiber Technology Will Change the  Industry

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 15, 2021
As communications and broadband technology evolved rapidly over the past two decades, optical fiber networks played a ...
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Enterprise Software Training: Why It Matters More Than You Think

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 01, 2021
Your company has just purchased an enterprise software system. The road to get here has been long. It’s been a significant ...
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Alden Systems, McLean Engineering Team Up to Bridge the Digital Divide

Posted by Ashley Little on May 18, 2021
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Shift  from  a Project to Process Mindset: Get Onboard or Fall Behind

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 06, 2021
Part Four of our series “The Success of 5G Deployment Depends on these 4 Key Industry Changes.” Read the other articles ...
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Data Driven Decisions Are Crucial to 5G Deployment

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 16, 2021
Part Three of our four-part series “The Success of 5G Deployment Depends on these 4 Key Industry Changes.” Read the other ...
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What Joint Use Stakeholders Must Recognize for a Smoother 5G Rollout

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 02, 2021
Part Two of our four-part series “The Success of 5G Deployment Depends on these 4 Key Industry Changes.” Read the first ...
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The Success of 5G Deployment Depends on these 4 Key Industry Changes

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 23, 2021
This article is the first in a four-part series that explores changes utilities can make to realize more effective 5G ...
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How Small Cell 5G is Affecting Municipalities

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 16, 2021
The spread of 5G wireless service across the country continues with great fanfare. Communications companies are trumpeting ...
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Guide to Communicating the Importance of Joint Use to All Stakeholders

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 26, 2021
For the many people responsible for deploying and maintaining utility and communications infrastructure, joint use is a more ...
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The Joint Use  Evolution: The High Cost of Not Working Together

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 01, 2020
Joint use in the utility sector began as a simple resource-sharing proposition between electric utilities and telephone ...
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Why Digital Twin Utilities Usage Is on the Rise

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 03, 2020
As the technologies used to create digital twins have become better and more affordable, forward-looking companies in many ...
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How Power Utilities Manage the Explosion of Small Cell Installations

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 23, 2020
Small cell is bringing big changes to joint use departments of electric utilities, telecommunications and broadband ...
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Small Cell Technology: Top Joint Use Challenges

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 23, 2020
Endless demand for wireless data and advances in technology are ushering in the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial ...
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Small Cell Backhaul Requirements for Telecommunications

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 22, 2020
Businesses are in a rush to get small cell wireless attachments deployed. In the past couple of years, competitors entered ...
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6 Ways Small Cell Infrastructure Is Impacting the Industry

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 21, 2020
Several years ago, the buzz began about the incoming mass deployment of small cell attachments. Annual deployment continues ...
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The Future of Small Cell Sites for Telecoms

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 20, 2020
In the past few years, communications companies have deployed thousands of antenna systems to fuel next-generation 5G, and ...
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5 Ways Small Cell Wireless is Changing Connectivity

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 19, 2020
For wireless consumers, small cell wireless promises ultra-fast connections, stronger signals, and exciting new technology ...
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In Perfect Alignment with Alden One®: CORE

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 13, 2020
CORE Electric Cooperative is an 82-year-old Colorado-based rural electric association with roughly 170,000 customers over ...
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Digital Twin Use Cases Demonstrate Benefit to the Utility Industry

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 06, 2020
As the technologies that can produce a detailed digital duplicate of a company’s physical assets are becoming more ...
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The Joint Use Industry: A Digital Twin Example at Work

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 08, 2020
In the joint use industry, confusion and uncertainty are the arch enemies of cooperation. They cause delays in permit ...
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Tilson: Innovating and Multitasking with Alden One®

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 18, 2020
Tilson is a network development and information infrastructure firm providing professional services to national ...
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Alden One® on the Job: Minnesota Power

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 11, 2020
Minnesota Power is an investor-owned utility with roughly 145,000 customers, whose services cover roughly 26,000 square ...
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What Is a Digital Twin and How Is it Changing the Joint Use Industry?

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 21, 2020
The digital revolution that began a few decades ago continues to rapidly reshape the way companies around the world do ...
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Alden & Leica Geosystems Join Forces to Simplify Utility Data Capture

Posted by Ashley Little on May 05, 2020
Let’s start with a common scenario: A communications company files a permitting application with an electric utility to ...
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Meeting the Challenges of 5G Small Cell Deployment

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 03, 2020
The 5G rollout has begun in cities across the U.S., and applications for small cell attachments to utility and streetlight ...
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Storm Hardening 101: What Utilities Should Consider and Why

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 18, 2020
Utility professionals have always been at war with the weather. Disruptive storms, whether in the form of hurricanes, ...
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How Utilities Can Prepare for Severe Weather with Storm Hardening

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 14, 2020
The decision to implement a storm hardening program is a big step for any utility company. Large-scale storm hardening can ...
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6 Reasons Storm Hardening is Essential for Utilities

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 17, 2019
Weather-related power outages have been inevitable as long as electric utilities have existed. The basic questions utilities ...
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Storm Hardening & Severe Weather Preparedness for Utilities

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 03, 2019
Utilities have always had to contend with the ravages of weather, particularly after massive storms that damaged or ...
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Utility Data Collection: The Past and Future of Inventory

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 08, 2019
For utility companies, accurate data is essential to effective asset management. Power providers need up-to-date data to ...
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The Nation’s Fastest-Growing Joint Use Event: We Want You to Join Us!

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 24, 2019
At Alden, we understand that joint use professionals work better when everyone works together. Since 1995, we have centered ...
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Joint Use 101 for Utility Poles and Other Assets

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 10, 2019
By the middle of the 20th century, many Americans likely felt they had reached the pinnacle of high-tech living. In ...
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FCC Small Cell Overview: Resources and Guide

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Aug 27, 2019
By now, many consumers of wireless services are aware that 5G is on its way. In a few U.S. cities, the newest generation of ...
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Preparing Staff for FCC Small Cell Regulations is an Ongoing Process

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Aug 13, 2019
The small cell revolution is underway. Deployment is accelerating as the 5G rollout continues. With the mass explosion of ...
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What the FCC’s Small Cell Ruling Means for Telecoms and Broadband

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jul 30, 2019
When the FCC issued its Third Report and Order on small cell attachments in September 2018, wireless telecommunications ...
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A Review of What the FCC’s Small Cell Ruling Means for Municipalities

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jul 16, 2019
The restrictions, requirements, and obligations in the FCC’s Third Order and Report on small cell wireless deployment ...
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Playing by the FCC Small Cell Rules: Fees and Restrictions

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jul 02, 2019
The goal of the FCC’s Third Report and Order on small cell wireless deployment, issued in September 2018, is to remove any ...
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Playing by the FCC Small Cell Rules: Timelines

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jun 18, 2019
The FCC’s Small Cell Third Report and Order, is all about speed. The Third Report and Order regulates deployment of small ...
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The FCC Small Cell Order: Everything You Need to Know (Part 2)

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on May 28, 2019
The September 2018 Third Report and Order was designed to speed up deployment of small cell wireless infrastructure across ...
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The FCC Small Cell Order: Everything You Need to Know (Part 1)

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on May 14, 2019
The race to roll out 5G wireless broadband service is under way in the United States. In September 2018, the Federal ...
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Digging into the FCC's Third Report and Order & One Touch Make Ready

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jan 29, 2019
Professionals in the joint use industry are preparing for compliance under the FCC’s Third Report and Order. The FCC’s ...
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What You Need to Know About OTMR

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Dec 04, 2018
If you have been following industry news or reading our blogs, you may know by now that the Federal Communications ...
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One Touch Make Ready Tip Sheet: 5 Ways to Get FCC Compliant

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Nov 27, 2018
New OTMR guidelines range from shortened timetables to specific processes. The primary parties involved (asset owners, ...
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FCC Compliance and One Touch Make Ready

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Nov 13, 2018
The Federal Communications Commission’s One Touch Make Ready order (OTMR), issued in August of 2018, spells out the rules, ...
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Preparing Your Staff: One Touch Make Ready and Broadband Deployment

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Nov 06, 2018
The FCC’s One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) order has placed the joint use community and its personnel in a new and uncharted ...
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The Promises of One Touch Make Ready (OTMR)

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 30, 2018
If you’ve been reading our latest blog series, you know that the FCC issued a Report and Order in August for the new policy ...
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Getting Started with OTMR: Make Ready Work

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 23, 2018
Across the United States, the joint use community is busy transitioning to the new rules and timetables established by the ...
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Challenges with FCC Internet Regulation and One Touch Make Ready

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 16, 2018
The FCC’s One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) order, issued in early August, involves big changes for everyone in the joint use ...
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Are You Ready for One Touch Make Ready?

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 09, 2018
The stage has been set for major advances in technology, and that means big changes for the joint use community. In August, ...
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How Dark Fiber Impacts the Telecom & Power Industry

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Oct 02, 2018
Installing fiber optic cable can be an expensive and lengthy process. Often, it requires an extended period of right-of-way ...
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The Impact of Fiber Optic Internet & Small Cell on Joint Use

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 25, 2018
There are big changes on the horizon for joint use professionals. With the race to attach and deploy services, the next few ...
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What is Fiber Optic Cable? 7 Things Joint Use Should Know

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 11, 2018
Fiber optic broadband is sweeping the nation. Fiber's advantages over copper include faster speeds, durability, and ...
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What DAS and Small Cell Attachers Want to Know About Your Assets

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jul 24, 2018
We interviewed Dianne Costello, Product Manager of Managed Services and Client Training, at Alden. We asked what small cell ...
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4 Ways to Streamline Joint Use Processes for Small Cell Deployment

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jul 17, 2018
One of our clients recently mentioned that within just a few weeks, their joint use department went from having five small ...
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Small Cell Architecture 101

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jun 26, 2018
Utility poles offer the necessary power and connectivity that is vital for small cell deployment. Providers will likely ...
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DAS vs. Small Cell: 7 Ways They are Different

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jun 12, 2018
Cell phone signals have become much more reliable in the last few years. Making calls from your office, home, or school ...
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What are Small Cell Attachments? Introduction for Joint Use Owners

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jun 05, 2018
Nationwide, utilities and other asset owners are seeing an influx of inquiries and permitting applications for small cell. ...
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Cybersecurity Series: CATV and Broadband Providers (Part 4/5)

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on May 22, 2018
In the early days of cable service, providers encountered attackers who tried to steal service, customer data, and video ...
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Cybersecurity Series: What are Communications Companies Facing?

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on May 15, 2018
Communications companies possess extensive consumer data, including financial and behavioral information. Customers ...
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Cybersecurity Series: Manage Critical Infrastructure Risks (Part 1/5)

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on May 01, 2018
As the joint use industry inches closer to a technology-based future, cybersecurity is an everyday concern. In the last few ...
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Small Cell Attachments Pave the Way for 5G Wireless

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Apr 17, 2018
The Internet of Things (IoT) is ushering in a new era of connected homes, smart appliances, and other developments beyond ...
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Differences in Power Space & Communication Space in the Race to Attach

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Apr 10, 2018
New players in the joint use arena are racing to deploy services. Utility poles once stood tall under the weight of power ...
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Top Joint Use Violations Under the NESC Guidelines

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Apr 03, 2018
What Pole Owners & Attachers Need to Know In 2015, we published an in-depth blog series about the top ten violations in ...
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Patching Legacy Joint Use Applications: Three Concerns

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Mar 27, 2018
Many joint use asset owners and attachers/renters use homegrown, legacy applications to manage their assets. Some use Excel ...
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Utility Pole Violations (Part 3): Environmental Conditions

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Feb 27, 2018
In our 3-part blog series, we are inspecting common pole conditions that can be costly for asset owners, as well as ...
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Utility Pole Violations (Part 2): Damage on the Pole

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Feb 20, 2018
In our 3-part blog series, we are investigating common pole conditions that interrupt service deployment and increase asset ...
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Utility Pole Violations (Part 1): Dangerous Conditions

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Feb 06, 2018
In this 3-part blog series, we are addressing common pole conditions that halt service deployment and can be costly to asset ...
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Conduit Asset Management (Part 4): Safety and Access in Vaults

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jan 30, 2018
In our four-part educational series, we have explored three important issues that manhole and handhole owners are currently ...
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Conduit Asset Management (Part 3): Violations in Manholes & Handholes

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jan 23, 2018
In this four-part series, we are uncovering manhole and handhole conditions. In our experience, asset owners are often ...
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Conduit Asset Management (Part 2): Structural Damage in Manholes

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jan 16, 2018
Successful joint use management of underground infrastructure begins with knowing which assets are in underground spaces and ...
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Conduit Asset Management (Part 1): Trespass in Manholes and Handholes

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Jan 09, 2018
Successful business decisions for asset owners and occupants of underground infrastructure begins with knowing which assets ...
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Getting Ahead in 2018: Pole Inspections (Part 1 of 3)

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Dec 12, 2017
Over the next three articles, we will discuss the tools needed to strengthen joint use partnerships. We will focus on the ...
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Field Asset Services (Part 3): Making Asset Data More Accessible

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 05, 2017
In the last post, we discussed the challenges created when asset owners are the only source of information on current field ...
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Field Asset Services (Part 2): Improve Safety with Crowdsourcing Data

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 28, 2017
In our last post, we examined reasons why line workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in America. More than just the ...
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Field Asset Services (Part 1): Utility Work is a Top Dangerous Job

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 14, 2017
Industry professionals understand the risks line workers face all too well. However, many customers may be surprised to ...
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How Utilities Can Build a More Responsive Mutual Aid Network

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 07, 2017
For power and communications providers preparing for storms, wildfires, or flooding, every moment is critical. Mutual aid ...
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How Utilities Can Resolve Issues Related to Mutual Aid Organizations

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 31, 2017
When a storm or other major event looms on the horizon, utility and communications companies turn to mutual aid ...
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Assessing Natural Disaster Risk for Utility Infrastructure Management

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 24, 2017
For joint use asset owners that are already stretched thin managing their plant, the trend of more frequent and more ...
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The Real Cost of Reactive Maintenance for Utilities After a Wildfire

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 10, 2017
While downed lines or other utility factors only cause a small fraction of wildfires, one fire is too many when the loss to ...
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Underground Conduit Infrastructure (Part 5): 5 Inventory Necessities

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 26, 2017
To close our underground series, we look at the crucial principles of an underground inventory. Underground inspections are ...
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Underground Conduit Infrastructure (Part 3): Violations & Safety

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 12, 2017
A few weeks ago, Hurricane Harvey gushed into the streets of Houston and surrounding areas. It flooded businesses, homes, ...
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Underground Conduit Infrastructure: Sneaking Around Underground

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Sep 05, 2017
Foreign to our everyday lives above ground, the underground world can be quite mysterious. What lies beneath is unknown and ...
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Underground Conduit Infrastructure (Part 1): Looking Under the Surface

Posted by Mary Ashley Canevaro on Aug 29, 2017
The future of communications is rapidly progressing. With high-speed broadband becoming a basic requirement in daily life, ...
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Using a Joint Use Platform (Part 4): A Look at Data and Reporting

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 18, 2017
Search tools deliver faster, more accessible results than traditional reports. Data is a hot topic today. How do you collect ...
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Using a Joint Use Platform (Part 1): How To Enter Data

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 20, 2017
The vast amount of asset data is overwhelming. Where should you begin? Traditional joint use management began as a manual ...
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Balancing Safety and Access On Poles and In Vaults

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 13, 2017
Better data management, consistency, and communication: three concepts to unite safety and access, multiplying productivity ...
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Is Your Field Asset Data Secure?

Posted by Ashley Little on May 30, 2017
Data security threats have become a primary focus for utility asset owners, as the risks from cyber threats grow in ...
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The Benefits of a Joint Use Platform [Part 3]: For Attachers

Posted by Ashley Little on May 23, 2017
It’s been all over the news this past year: Google Fiber made plans to deploy broadband into several markets at a breakneck ...
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Benefits of a Joint Use Platform [Part 1]: For States & Organizations

Posted by Ashley Little on May 09, 2017
People are using more and more data with their various devices. For state and local governments, getting broadband access ...
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Data Asset Management: Current Challenges and Solutions

Posted by Ashley Little on May 02, 2017
Today’s utility asset data is a vast world of information. Much of it is valuable; some of it is not. Asset owners hold data ...
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The Battle Against Double Wood and Aging Pole Transfers

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 18, 2017
One of the most prevalent issues facing utility pole owners is aging pole transfers, but they don’t have to be a constant ...
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How to Extend the Life of Your Utility Poles

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 04, 2017
When damage to a utility pole is caught early, it can be treated to halt rot, decay or insect damage from further weakening ...
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How to Streamline Joint Use Utility Pole Transfers

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 21, 2017
When a utility pole needs to be replaced, the pole owner will schedule the required equipment transfers. Many utility poles ...
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An Introduction to Utility Pole Joint Use

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 09, 2017
What is Joint Use, and How Does It Work? Imagine a street lined with several sets of utility poles running up both sides, ...
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Taking Asset Inventory: 5 Key Steps to Get Started

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 07, 2017
For businesses that own and operate joint use assets including utility poles and underground conduit, it is important to ...
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How the IoT Will Move Companies from Data Collection to Data-Driven

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 28, 2017
Big data is being used in practically every industry today, yet many struggle with beneficial data utilization by having too ...
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Outdated Data: Worse Than No Data?

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 21, 2017
The big data revolution has left many utilities and communications companies scrambling to manage backlogs of stored ...
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The Growing Importance of IoT and IIoT

Posted by Ashley Little on Feb 02, 2017
The Internet of Things – and the Industrial Internet of Things – promise significant changes and improvements for asset ...
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Machine-to-Machine Communication and Network Asset Management

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 20, 2016
As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to gain momentum, more and more assets will be connected in the field. Advances in ...
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Winning Strategies (Part 2): How Pole Owners Can Generate Revenue

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 13, 2016
This post is the second in a two-part blog series that explores the potential for joint use field assets to become ...
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Winning Strategies (Part 1): How Pole Owners Can Generate Revenue

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 06, 2016
In the past, when companies were regulated entities, they could operate under a cost-plus business model that allowed them ...
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Tall Trees & Sagging Wires: Significant Risks of Unmanaged Vegetation

Posted by Katie Shaddix on Nov 22, 2016
On a sweltering summer afternoon in August of 2003, 21 North American power plants suddenly crashed offline, leaving 50 ...
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Who's on the Line? Contractor Coordination Under One Touch Make Ready

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 04, 2016
With 30 states in the joint use community now required to follow the Federal Communications Commission’s new “One Touch Make ...
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Infrastructure Asset Management: Why is Joint Use Important?

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 20, 2016
Utility poles and conduit vaults (the underground version of a wire-carrying 40-foot pole) are everywhere in our world—along ...
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Is it Time to Renegotiate Your Joint Use Contracts?

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 30, 2016
One of the keys to running a business well is having visible oversight—the high-level, future-focused information that ...
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Your Double Poles Are Hiding Lost Revenue

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 02, 2016
We have drilled it into your head: double utility poles are a liability. They are a safety issue. They cost money. They ...
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Do the Math: Compounding Poles Equals Compounding Fines

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 12, 2016
Call it double wood, double utility poles, or just a double headache for your joint use department, neglecting to remove an ...
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Tips for Field Asset Management: Create an Assessment Strategy

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 21, 2016
Assessing what's in the field is a key component to asset management. If you do not know what's out there or the current ...
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Your Attachment, My Liability: The Burden of the Utility Pole Owner

Posted by Ashley Little on May 31, 2016
For pole owners, attachers are partners: entities that rely on mutual agreement to operate together in one space. However, ...
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The Hidden Cost of Resource Contention

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 26, 2016
We frequently discuss the time and monetary constraints many joint use departments face, often in the context of resource ...
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Do You Need Joint Use Assistance and Not Know It?

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 05, 2016
Deep in the mines of days past, workers would carry along a small, caged bird on each subterranean trip. Its purpose? To ...
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Outsourcing & Infrastructure Asset Management: Pick Your Mix

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 29, 2016
When utility pole owners, attaching companies or anyone with a joint use department decide to ask for help, we have found it ...
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How is Double Wood a Double Headache? Let Us Count the Ways

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 22, 2016
While many unexpected issues can be discovered during utility pole inspections, among the most common is double wood. For ...
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How Managed Services Bring the Two Halves of Joint Use Together

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 15, 2016
Joint use is, by nature, a bit of a fractured business: it has two distinct sides to its story. On one hand, you have ...
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Why Moving On (Changing Poles) is Hard to Do – For Attachers

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 01, 2016
You may have heard the anecdote that moving—picking up your belongings, removing them from one location and depositing them ...
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A Joint Use Inquiry: To In-House or Outsource?

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 01, 2015
As business-critical decisions go, when the work gets heavy and resources get thin, this question is often heard: Should we ...
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Bad Poles: Do You Own Them & What is Your Liability?

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 06, 2015
If the term "bad poles" sounds ominous, that is because it is—at least in terms of your organization’s appetite for risk. No ...
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4 Crucial Ways to Gain Control Over Utility Pole Transfer Requests

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 22, 2015
Pole transfers are an unavoidable part of the joint use universe. This business-as-usual task requires resource allocation, ...
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3 Reasons Your Utility Pole Transfer Requests Are Overdue

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 15, 2015
Utility poles are hardly immortal. They age beyond useful life. They rot and are damaged by elements, human activity and ...
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Navigating the Field Asset Management Cycle: Keeping Data Current

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 01, 2015
Effective field asset management is not a straight line from installation to decommission; it should be viewed as a ...
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Navigating the Field Asset Management Cycle: Getting Results

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 25, 2015
Effective field asset management is not a straight line from installation to decommission; it should be viewed as a ...
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Navigating the Field Asset Management Cycle: Collecting Data

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 18, 2015
Effective field asset management is not a straight line from installation to decommission; it should be viewed as a ...
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Navigating the Field Asset Management Cycle: Need Better Data?

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 11, 2015
Effective field asset management is not a straight line from installation to decommission; it should be viewed as a ...
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Field Asset Management: A Continuous Cycle

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 04, 2015
You buy a brand new utility pole (or many), plan the job and install the poles. These field assets have an estimated life ...
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C is for Capture: Asset Verification in the Field

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 02, 2015
From first sight to final inspection, utility pole inspections are a vital part of successful field asset verification. So ...
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Field Asset Management: An Encyclopedia of NESC Inspection

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 14, 2015
From first sight to final inspection, a thorough utility pole inventory and inspection is a vital part of successful field ...
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Joint Use Violation Most Wanted List #10: Leaning Poles

Posted by Ashley Little on Apr 07, 2015
While there are many issues and violations in the joint use world, there are a few we see so often we consider them problems ...
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Joint Use Violation Most Wanted List #9 Missing & Damaged Ground Wires

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 31, 2015
While there are many issues and violations in the joint use world, there are a few we see so often we consider them problems ...
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Joint Use Most Wanted List #7: Abandoned J-Hooks, P-Hooks & Anchors

Posted by Ashley Little on Mar 17, 2015
While there are dozens of issues in the joint use world, there are a few we see so often that we consider them problems of ...
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Joint Use Violation Most Wanted List #6: Climbing & Working Space

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 27, 2015
While there are many issues and violations in the joint use world, there are a few we see so often we consider them problems ...
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Joint Use Violation Most Wanted #5: Mid-Span Vertical Clearance Issues

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 20, 2015
While there are many of joint use violation issues, there are a few we see so often we consider them problems of interest: ...
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Utility Pole Producers, Costs and Maintenance

Posted by Ashley Little on Dec 02, 2014
The treated wooden utility pole is the all-star of the joint use world. Straight. Strong. Renewable. Resistant to wind and ...
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The Wonderful Wood Utility Pole: History and Benefits

Posted by Ashley Little on Nov 07, 2014
Utility poles come in a variety of materials from metal to concrete to composites such as fiberglass, however, we would like ...
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The Pole Has To Go: Utility Pole Transfer Designations

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 16, 2014
Picture this: Two poles stand where only one should be. You may call it “double wood,” but utility pole owners and ...
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Pole Safety: An Owner's Perspective

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 10, 2014
At the Alden Updater, we are declaring October utility pole safety month. We actually think this should be every month. In ...
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Telecommunications Inside Plant: What is a Central Office?

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 09, 2014
Today begins a recurring series on inside plant (ISP) telecommunications industry issues, equipment and central office ...
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Hang the For Sale Sign: Why & When of Buying or Selling Utility Poles

Posted by Ashley Little on Oct 08, 2014
Telephone poles are a valuable asset for power utilities, municipalities and telecoms—hundreds to thousands of forty-foot ...
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The Inventory Cycle: When and How Often?

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 25, 2014
There is little doubt that good inventory management practices are valuable to nearly any business, especially an inventory ...
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Integration & Inventory: Creating a Tightly Connected Asset Catalog

Posted by Ashley Little on Sep 16, 2014
While a thorough, well-executed inventory is good for business in itself, using robust data collection software that is ...
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Happy 100th Birthday to the NESC!

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 29, 2014
We would like to pause for a moment to celebrate the birthday of one of the most influential forces in the Utility industry: ...
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Four-Wall Inventory: The Real Value

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 26, 2014
In today's economic climate, with efficiency and cost-effectiveness of utmost important, companies are compelled to evaluate ...
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Five Must-Haves for Beginning an Asset Inventory Project

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 19, 2014
Now that we have likely convinced you of the benefits of conducting a thorough inventory of all assets and materials, it is ...
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Copper Theft: A Dangerous Epidemic

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 05, 2014
This summer, one Texas co-op is facing $20,000-plus in losses due to the actions of some ingenious thieves. Armed with a ...
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Joint Use Trivia: Everything You Never Knew About Utility Poles

Posted by Ashley Little on Aug 01, 2014
We discuss utility pole assets often on the Alden Updater. You see them every day while you’re driving, walking, and just ...
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Pros & Cons of Asset Management Using RFID

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 25, 2014
RFID (radio-frequency identification) is wireless, non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer ...
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GPS vs. Asset Tags: Are Your Poles Speaking the Language of Success?

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 22, 2014
Imagine each utility pole across the world’s landscape as an individual entity with a position on the earth and a set of ...
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Benefits of Joint Use Departments: Part Two

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 10, 2014
We have already discussed the benefits of having a joint use department, but what if your business is too small to truly ...
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Taking out the Trash: Disposing of Equipment Excess after Inventory

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 09, 2014
Most businesses keep spare equipment and other operationally important items on hand to ensure they are providing services, ...
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Asset Inventory: Take Control to Avoid Negative Consequences

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 08, 2014
Conducting regular, successful asset inventories is as vital a business function as providing quality service to your ...
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Inventory Management: Use Internal Resources or Outsource?

Posted by Ashley Little on Jul 03, 2014
When a business has made the choice to conduct an asset inventory, the organization has a number of important decisions to ...
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Inventory Management 101: Improve Data Collection & Asset Recovery

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 26, 2014
Inventory management likely ranks at the top of people’s lists of stressful activities—and near the bottom in terms of ...
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Underground Vaults: Out of Sight But Not Out of Reach for Bootlegs

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 25, 2014
Utility poles are visible, tangible assets—40 feet of hard to forget wood towering above ground. Exposed and often installed ...
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Repair it or Regret it: Six Fixes You May Have Overlooked

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 19, 2014
We have already given you Five Reasons to Take Control of your Inventory Audit Cycle, but numbers two and three on the ...
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3 Reasons Contract Enforcement Should Be On Pole Owners' Lists

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 12, 2014
Think for a moment about joint use contracts. These detail-filled documents are an important part of any utility pole ...
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Attachments: Identifying—and Solving—Common Problems

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 11, 2014
In April of 2011, the FCC adopted an order that significantly overhauled pole attachment guidelines. Among other things, ...
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Delayed Pole Transfer and Injury: A Serious Problem

Posted by Ashley Little on Jun 05, 2014
According to a study conducted in New York State, among 1,134 non-standard conditions discovered during 2,023 utility pole ...
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