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File #: 16-2077   
Type: Staff Briefing - Without Ordinance
In control: Transportation, Technology and Utilities Committee
On agenda: 5/11/2016
Posting Language: A briefing on CPS Energy’s implementation of its new pole attachment compliance program. [ Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Paul Barham, Sr. VP. Energy Delivery Services, CPS Energy]
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DEPARTMENT: Finance                       

 

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott, Director 

                     

                     

COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide

 

 

SUBJECT:

 

CPS Energy Pole Attachment Services

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

The proposed presentation is to provide an update to the Transportation, Technology and Utilities committee on CPS Energy’s implementation of its new pole attachment compliance program.

 

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

As a result of growth in the local market for broadband services, incumbent telecommunication and cable providers are upgrading their existing networks and new broadband companies, large and small, are entering the San Antonio market to deploy new fiber networks.  These network upgrades and deployments require access to CPS Energy utility poles.  Consequently, CPS Energy anticipates pole attachment permit requests to increase from approximately 200 per month to 5,000 per month in 2016.

 

In response, CPS Energy has created the Pole Attachment Services Department to manage the pole attachment permitting process led by a team of five employees, and supported by an outside engineering firm.  In addition, CPS Energy has introduced proposed Pole Attachment Standards (the “Standards”) anchored on the principles of public safety, network reliability, and customer service.  The Standards will be applicable to all attaching entities in order to provide non-discriminatory access to utility poles as required by state law.  The Standards are expected to become effective on August 1, 2016.  CPS Energy invited stakeholders to a workshop held on February 17, 2016 to introduce the Standards and has posted on its website the draft Standards and invited comments from stakeholders.  Another workshop is planned for May 11, 2016.  

 

The new pole attachment program will introduce significant system and process improvements, including the following:

                     Options for each attaching entity to select permitting process that best fits its business

                     Opportunity for attaching entities to exercise more control over construction process

                     One-Touch Transfer Process to efficiently transfer lines on a pole with one qualified contractor

                     Shorter time periods to issue pole attachment permits

                     Accuracy in pole and attachment counts

                     Simplified pole attachment agreements

 

These system and process improvements will result in substantial benefits to communications providers and to the community-at-large, such as:

                     Lowering construction costs

                     Minimizing customer impact

                     Expediting network deployment

                     Expanding market for engineering contractors

                     Maintaining compliance with engineering and safety standards

 

CPS Energy’s new pole attachment program will establish a transparent and non-discriminatory process that will make available tools to small and large communications companies alike with which to manage pole attachments in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.  This will in turn allow these companies to expedite the delivery of innovative broadband services to their customers.

 

 

 

ISSUE:

 

The proposed presentation is to provide an update to the Transportation, Technology and Utilities committee on CPS Energy’s implementation of its new pole attachment compliance program.

 

 

ALTERNATIVES:

 

This item is for briefing purposes only.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

This item is for briefing purposes only.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

This item is for briefing purposes only.