West Virginia Public Service Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Lane delivered strong criticism last Tuesday as a key hearing began on rules for expanding fiber broadband using existing power poles, according to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
“The PSC will not be the reason this state doesn’t get broadband,” Lane said, expressing frustration over continued disagreements among electric utilities, internet providers, and state officials. “I hold the parties in this room responsible for where we are today.”
The hearing stems from an August 2024 PSC order creating a task force to propose rules for pole attachments—essential for running broadband lines on power poles owned by AEP and FirstEnergy subsidiaries. The task force submitted its final report in January, recommending faster dispute resolution, shared pole inspection data, annual reporting, and approved contractor lists. However, not all proposals had unanimous support.
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