Joint Use Communication: Sending the Right Data to the Right Place

Joint use does not exist in a vacuum—there are many other departments and divisions within a typical pole-owning utility or municipality’s operations that rely on accurate, timely information regarding the placement and management of attachments and utility poles.

It can be a complex web of people and processes—many job titles, goals, department functions and even legal ramifications are at play, and because of this variety, making sure all parties involved have access to the correct resources to complete their part of the pole management and operational puzzle is vital to success.

Depending on the size of the entity, multiple departments and individuals can be affected by various joint use demands. Though not a comprehensive list, this group can include:

• Outside plant engineering
• Design engineering
• Planning
• Public policy
• Legal departments
• Construction, contracted and in-house
• Regulatory affairs
• Finance
• Safety
• Forestry services
• Vegetation control
• Procurement
• Economic development
• Right of way (ROW)
• Human resources
• Many other potential stakeholders

Think about a lack of communication like a game of dominoes: what affects one department may in turn affect others—directly or indirectly—down the line. So, how can you ensure that information keeps flowing from one vastly different entity to another? By utilizing a comprehensive, connected joint use management solution that makes sharing information timely, seamless, and above all, easy to manage. Look for a joint use system that handles the following everyday actions and audits to keep departments talking:

• Utility pole management
• Audit of incoming bills
• Production of detailed billing data
• Facilitation of joint use inventories
• Management of maintenance and safety issues
• Distribution of data to stakeholders, including engineering, asset accounting, finance, regulatory, human resources and more