West Virginia Utilities to Fund deteriorated Pole Replacements to accelerate Broadband Deployment
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2025 – West Virginia’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued an order requiring regulated utility companies to bear the cost of replacing utility poles deemed unsafe or unsuitable for new broadband attachments. The decision, announced Thursday, aims to remove a key obstacle to the state’s ambitious broadband expansion plans and safeguard federal funding.
The PSC’s order specifically mandates that pole owners, rather than broadband providers, are responsible for replacing poles identified with “red tags” – indicating they are to old, damaged, or or else inadequate to support additional attachments. This action follows mounting concerns over delays caused by slow utility response times, hindering broadband construction across the state.
“Continuing delays are jeopardizing the availability of federal funding for broadband expansion, and this is unacceptable,” the Commission stated in its order. “We expect attachment requests to proceed without delay.”
The PSC expressed concern that utility companies have been insufficiently proactive in identifying poles requiring replacement, warning that further inaction could jeopardize projects reliant on federal broadband grants. West Virginia maintains over 2.5 million utility poles, primarily owned by electric and telephone companies.
This ruling coincides with a separate $8.1 million proposal to establish a statewide pole database designed to improve coordination between utilities and broadband providers and track pole conditions. While utilities have voiced opposition to the database,citing potential costs and implementation challenges,the PSC emphasized the need for fairness and efficiency in broadband deployment,particularly in underserved areas.
the Commission’s decision is crucial for West Virginia’s efforts to meet the deadlines associated with its $624.6 million allocation from the federal Broadband Equity, access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The state’s draft BEAD plan projects that 94% of new connections will utilize fiber optic technology – the highest percentage nationally – and regulators stress that resolving pole attachment disputes is vital to maintaining project timelines and securing federal funds.
