Lewes BPW approves AT&T pole attachment request
The Lewes Board of Public Works has agreed to enter into a 10-year contract with AT&T, paving the way for the entity’s first pole-attachment agreement for 5G antennas.
BPW board members began discussing the request during their September meeting, but they had issues with the terms. The telecommunications company was seeking to place two 5G antennas atop BPW utility poles without having to pay invoices for 120 days. The company also wanted a 90-day grace period for filing a dispute. Board members felt that 30 days, the industry standard for billing, was appropriate and initially wanted the same length for disputes, but settled on 60 days. AT&T will also have 60 days to address unauthorized attachments and maintenance concerns.
Should AT&T agree with the final revisions to the contract, it will become the first company to enter into the BPW’s recently adopted pole attachment agreement. Board members felt terms of the deal will become a uniform policy moving forward and stressed the need to accurately define a fee schedule. The application and inspection fees will total $160 per pole while a make-ready fee will vary for each request based on the resources consumed. The attachment fee will be $270 per year for the first five years, with the possibility of an increase to prevailing rates for years six through 10.
The discovery of an unauthorized attachment will cost AT&T $150 per pole and an additional $50 each noncompliant day. If the pole needs to be restored to condition following a storm or one of the towers needs to be transferred, a 20% charge to the invoice will be added along with the cost of construction and materials.
There are 5G structures on the Lewes BPW water towers, but they are the only ones currently in the City of Lewes.
