Transferring attachments from old poles to new ones requires prompt action and precise orchestration. Delayed or neglected utility pole transfers can quickly become a joint use asset management nightmare. Still, it's not uncommon for utility pole owners to have a backlog of transfers.
Let's examine the impact of delayed transfer work, and how Alden ONE helps asset owners better manage the utility pole transfer process - from end to end.
Double wood, buddy poles, or "two sticks" occur when both old and new poles are present in the same location due to delayed or neglected pole transfer work.
Double poles can pose a safety hazard to the public and utility workers, while leaning poles pose a risk to pedestrians and cyclists. Also, deteriorating poles are unsightly, drawing complaints from homeowners, developers, and municipalities.
Neglecting transfer work can also turn into field violations for attachers, as hazardous poles may violate NESC standards, impact plant safety, or cause public harm - leading to legal and financial consequences.
Compounding the issue is the FCC's push to speed up broadband deployment. New service providers can't attach their equipment until the other attachers have completed their equipment transfer(s), creating delays that prevent companies from delivering valuable services to the public.
Most attachers and pole owners strive to stay compliant and perform timely pole transfers. However, certain challenges unique to joint use, like having ever-increasing numbers of stakeholders on these assets, often prevent asset owners from gaining a holistic view of the end-to-end pole transfer process and managing it effectively to avoid the legal, financial, and reputational consequences of violations.
Sometimes, pole owner records may not have been updated to reflect changes even when attachers have completed their transfer work in the field. Poor communication between owners and attachers may also make it more challenging to determine the type of pole transfer, the attachments requiring transfer, the responsible parties, and the correct sequence for performing the work.
A simple transfer involves moving attachments from the old pole to the new one (already placed) without the need for cable splicing.
A complex transfer may require cable splicing and/or additional equipment, resulting in make-ready work for completion. A transfer is also considered complex when a company files a permit for a new attachment, but a new pole is necessary to accommodate the additional equipment, which also requires make-ready.
When utility pole owners face situations in which attaching companies have failed to perform transfers, they then need to review contractual terms to assess whether there are applicable fines, or complete the work and subsequently bill the attacher. Additionally, utility pole transfers must be performed in a specific order. Effective communication throughout the transfer process is essential for preventing errors and bottlenecks. With Alden ONE, attachers are notified in the proper order when it's their turn to transfer equipment.
Effective pole transfer management starts with good communication between the joint use partners utilizing these assets. Alden ONE is a centralized business process automation platform, where users create Conversations to manage all communications regarding common asset data and workflows among utility stakeholders. Conversations contain all documents, notes, photos, invoices, and contracts associated with any joint use process, including utility pole transfer.
Alden ONE's predefined workflows for pole transfers include "next-to-go" sequencing, which simplifies attachment management by automatically notifying stakeholders when it's their turn to move their attachments.
Alden ONE helps asset owners implement efficient processes essential for maintaining trust and cooperation with asset attachers. The platform enables all parties to ensure contractual compliance, minimize disruption to the public caused by delayed utility pole transfers, and improve their infrastructure.
Find out how you can gain clarity about your company's field assets and take control of utility pole transfers, contact us today.