Utilities as Infrastructure Partners: New Rules for Make-Ready in 2026

Real World Best Practices in Developing, Negotiating, and Implementing Infrastructure Access Agreements with Utilities From pole attachment agreements to fiber lease agreements building, maintaining, and extending facilities-based broadband networks often involves a need to access utility or other third-party infrastructure. Increasingly, utilities are partners in these projects. This session will address best practices for developing and managing these agreements in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner. The session will explore:

• The scope of current and new federal pole attachment make-ready regulations;
• Key issues and considerations for successfully addressing bulk deployments in previously unserved areas;
• Managing carrier and utility expectations;
• Utilities as participants in public private broadband partnerships.