GoNetspeed, a regional internet service provider, has expressed concerns about the lengthy process required to attach fiber to utility poles in Massachusetts, a process that can take up to four years in certain cases. This is significantly longer compared to neighboring New England states, where the process generally takes less than two years, BroadbandBreakfast reported.
The ISP attributes these delays to outdated and inefficient state regulations. In its filing with the Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Telecommunications and Cable, GoNetspeed highlighted the lack of clear timelines, modern processes, and enforcement mechanisms as major obstacles hindering broadband deployment and discouraging investment.
GoNetSpeed, formerly known as OTELCO, is a private telecommunications holding company headquartered in Oneonta, AL. The company owns several small broadband companies operating in Alabama, Missouri, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and various New England states.
“Massachusetts is a different story entirely,” GoNetspeed wrote, contrasting the state’s drawn-out process with its experience building fiber networks in Connecticut and Maine. In those states, the company said it was able to construct more than 2,500 miles of fiber and reach over 200,000 homes within 24 months, acknowledging clearer rules and streamlined procedures like one-touch make-ready (OTMR) protocols.
In Massachusetts, GoNetspeed reported that it often experiences a wait of more than a year for survey and engineering results, and up to four years for make-ready work to be completed. The delays are attributed to duplicative applications, inconsistent utility coordination, and a lack of enforceable deadlines.
The company recommended that regulators consider reforms similar to federal rules applied in 26 states, as well as policies from neighboring states such as Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. These suggested reforms include OTMR, use of pre-approved contractors, temporary attachments, and timelines for pole access.
GoNetspeed cautioned that without reform, Massachusetts risks internet access lagging behind its neighboring states.
By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor
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