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  "description": "Regulators warn delays could jeopardize federal broadband deployments.",
  "path": "/west-virginia-orders-utilities-to-pay-for-pole-replacements/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-10-20T18:54:31.000Z",
  "site": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com",
  "tags": [
    "_ordered_",
    "_state officials advanced_",
    "_West Virginia’s draft BEAD plan_"
  ],
  "textContent": "WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2025 – West Virginia regulators ordered regulated utilities to pay to replace deteriorated poles, and said slow utility action was stalling broadband projects.\n\nThe state’s Public Service Commission on Thursday _ordered_ that regulated pole owners, not broadband providers, must pay to replace “red tagged” poles that are too old, unsafe, or damaged for new attachments. The decision followed growing frustration over slow utility coordination that officials said was holding back broadband construction statewide.\n\n“We are concerned that continuing delays are jeopardizing the availability of federal funding for broadband expansion,” the state Commission said. “This is unacceptable. We expect attachment requests to proceed without delay.”\n\nThe Commission said pole owners “have not been consistent and aggressive in identifying poles that should be replaced,” and warned that further inaction could stall projects tied to federal broadband grants. West Virginia has more than 2.5 million utility poles, mostly owned by electric and telephone companies.\n\nThe decision came as _state officials advanced_ an $8.1 million proposal to create a pole database to track conditions and improve coordination between utilities and broadband providers. Utilities have opposed the plan, and argued that compliance would be costly and slow to implement.\n\nIn its order, the Commission said its approach “aims to promote fairness and efficiency in broadband deployment, especially in underserved areas where infrastructure upgrades are critical.”\n\nThe order reinforced the state’s effort to clear infrastructure barriers and stay on schedule for its $624.6 million of the $42.5 billion federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. _West Virginia’s draft BEAD plan_ projected 94 percent of new connections to be built with fiber, the highest percentage share in the nation. Regulators said resolving pole disputes was critical to keeping those projects on time and protecting federal funds.",
  "title": "West Virginia Orders Utilities to Pay for Pole Replacements",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-11T05:44:21.339Z"
}