Go to your state level elected officials. Tell them you need ROW access and until now you could have done it by being a CLEC, but the PUC is no longer honoring that, so you need them to either pass a new law or convince the PUC to stop being dicks.
Can you rent space on someone else's switch? Can they even do that? I don't know, I'm not an attorney. ----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions http://www.ics-il.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Zephyr Broadband" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, January 19, 2015 12:12:31 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Laying your own fiber? AFAIK, the 2 primary ways to get access to ROW for most of the US is a Franchise agreement and/or CLEC certification. This gets you into the Utility ROW Easements without issues. Many properties have ROW Utility easements. If you plan to do Video, you might as well do the CATV franchise agreement. This typically gets you into the Utility ROW easements and easements set aside for the city. And therein lies the rub. The Colorado PUC stated last week that they are cracking down on data-only providers filing for CLEC certification simply for ROW access. Now, if you want certification, you have to have a Class 5 switch and must plan to originate access traffic or they'll deny the application on the spot. <blockquote> Some states have allowed broadband providers to use utility easements. Unless you are prepared to spend a minimum of $250k for video, I recommend you run away. Dish just launch phase 1 of their internet video offering. More channels will follow. I don't think you'll ever make your money back here, unless you plan to be at 5k subs. </blockquote> Yeah, saw their plans for sling.com pop up last week. Ouch. $250k. That's expensive, but considering the PUCs stance on data only providers...it might be cheaper than jumping into the facilities-based telecom game 15 years too late.
