As the United States deploys fifth-generation wireless technology (5G) as the standard for internet connectivity, major changes to the country’s communication infrastructure are underway.  To pave the way for a national 5G network, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted sweeping pole attachment orders to accelerate the widespread and swift deployment of small cell wireless broadband facilities.  As a result, investor-owned and public power utilities across the nation are facing increasingly complex issues as they manage requests for wireless attachments of small cell facilities.

This webinar will describe how two utilities are responding to the FCC order, negotiating agreements and managing wireless attachments.

Bill Galloway, P.E., the Managing Engineer for the Energy Standards unit at Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) will share the company’s experience with small cell installations including standards development, agreements with the various carriers and lessons learned from CSU’s experience.  David Beckett, a CSU Division Senior Attorney in the Colorado Springs City Attorney’s Office, will discuss the FCC’s order and Colorado law as applied to municipal utilities as well as the joint role of the City and CSU as it relates to their legal/contractual experience with small cell installations.

Michael J. Maronski, Real Estate Manager at PECO Energy Company, will discuss the impact of the FCC’s strategy on investor-owned utilities’ joint use practices, safety impacts including the results of PECO’s analysis of radio frequency emissions, and process changes to align make-ready contractor work.