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 One Touch Make Ready.
Similar to the “Dig Once” policy for overhead attachments, the OTMR order seeks to streamline make ready work by encouraging one trip to the pole.
The rules and regulations within the order give utilities, telecommunications, and broadband providers a mandatory outline by which to reduce deployment costs, use resources more efficiently, and help new market entrants.
The OTMR order applies to states regulated by the FCC. Companies involved with the new policy include municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, telecommunications, cable, broadband providers and associated contractors. States that are self-regulated have been encouraged to establish similar operational guidelines.
What Does OTMR Promise?
One Touch Make Ready may seem confusing or overwhelming due to its massive changes in previously executed processes. But the order does hold several benefits for both pole owners and attaching companies. The primary promise of OTMR is to speed broadband deployment in preparation for 5G wireless and the advancement of IoT. The OTMR-Based Regime, however cumbersome it appears, it promotes all joint use parties working together for the benefit of these goals.
Here are a few promises made by the order that support fast, safe, and reliable deployment:
Common Sense
Although the new regulations will require a hefty transition for both asset owners and attachers, there’s no denying the sensical approach OTMR brings to the joint use world. Requiring all companies to coordinate on the same processes will produce long-term benefits.
Also, asset owners have been previously responsible for the majority of make-ready work, especially in the realm of permitting. One purpose of OTMR is to allow owners to share their responsibility with the attaching companies. Since the attaching company is typically the party more interested in deploying service, it makes sense to give them a heavier hand in make-ready.
No More Stalling
Faster broadband deployment has been a request of many organizations, companies, consumers and the FCC for some time. With the new OTMR policy, swift deployment is no longer a pipe dream. OTMR requires timelines and deadlines (by all parties) for basically every part of the joint use process. Further, the order provides an opportunity to reduce pole attachment rental rates, which helps attaching companies to get to the poles faster and invite new players to the race.
A Well-Defined Process
Like most things in life, One Touch Make Ready is what we make of it. With the new timelines, reduced costs, and rules provided by the FCC, the policy offers a defined process for the joint use community to adhere by. If all companies are working on the same deadlines and timetables, while complying with OTMR-Based Regime, the process will begin to run itself.
