US Telecom Statement on D.C. Circuit Decision to uphold FCC pole attachment order

Background: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today issued a unanimous decision upholding all aspects of the April 2011 order of the Federal Communications Commission establishing a new regulatory regime for attachments to utility poles. USTelecom joined this case as an intervenor in support of the Commission in order to defend the agency's conclusion that incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) were included within the statute's protections for just and reasonable attachmentrates and conditions.

The following statement is from USTelecom President & CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr.:

"Today's unanimous appeals court decision, upholding all aspects of the FCC's order on pole attachments, is a win for competition, a win for consumers, and a win for broadband deployment. Assuring that incumbent local exchange carriers have access to the federal statutory protections of just and reasonable poleattachment rates was a key objective of Chairman Genachowki's Broadband Acceleration Initiative, and today's action by the D.C. Court of Appeals provides the certainty and predictability that is so important to investment. We applaud both the FCC, and the Court, on a wise decision that advances the public interest."