Fiber Broadband Association Submits Comments to FCC on Pole Attachment Regulation

JULY 22, 2026 — The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) submitted comments on July 13 to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting greater transparency and consistency with respect to pole attachment regulation in states that have exercised reverse preemption of the FCC’s authority.

FBA supports directing states—especially those relying on certifications that predate the 1996 expansion of federal telecommunications law—to refile their reverse preemption certifications with the FCC and provide a more complete account of how they regulate pole attachments. Updated certifications should include the legal authority underpinning their framework, the process for resolving disputes, and a publicly available methodology. Bringing those filings up to date would give regulators, pole owners, and broadband providers greater certainty about the scope of state authority and the requirements governing deployment. At the same time, efforts to improve transparency regarding reverse preemption regulation should not come at the expense of ongoing broadband deployment, and states should remain focused on executing and enforcing their regulations to expedite attachments.

FBA looks forward to working with the FCC and state regulators to ensure the federal-state pole attachment framework functions effectively, supports timely access to infrastructure, and keeps fiber deployment moving in communities across the country.