Pittsburgh Business Times - June 1, 2007
http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/06/04/story8.html
Salsgiver Internet Services is the latest company to win a battle with
North Pittsburgh Telephone Co. over the right to use telephone poles to
install fiber optic lines.
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that Salsgiver's
complaint against Gibsonia-based North Pittsburgh Telephone Co., a
division of North Pittsburgh Systems Inc., was valid and ordered North
Pittsburgh to give Salsgiver access to North Pittsburgh's poles for the
placement of attachments. This will allow the Freeport-based Internet
service provider to offer fiber optic data and phone products to
customers within the North Pittsburgh telephone territory. Fiber optic
cable uses hair-thin strands of fiber to link homes and businesses to a
faster network than the more traditional copper lines.
"We've struggled over the years with North Pittsburgh to roll out
service," President and CEO Loren Salsgiver told the Business Times May
24. "It sounds like we can move forward no matter what they do. ...
We'll start tomorrow since we got the ruling today."
It's the third ruling the FCC has made this year in regard to the same
complaint against North Pittsburgh. Two other complaints, filed by DQE
Communications, a subsidiary of Duquesne Light Holdings, and Fibertech
Networks, were approved in February. Salsgiver is still awaiting one
more FCC decision that could grant the company access to the poles for
additional video services.
North Pittsburgh spokesman Harry Crytzer said the company plans to
comply with the FCC decision, but declined further comment.
The change will make it easier for companies to offer more competitive
services in the North Pittsburgh territory, according to Salsgiver.
"The whole sad part about this thing is yeah, they are hurting us, but
the consumers and the businesses are the ones who are losing out because
we pay far too much for phone services, far too much for data services,"
Salsgiver said.
Salsgiver plans to roll out voice and data services to customers this
summer, and he hopes to offer a three-part package of services to
customers: voice, data and video. He hopes to add about 8,000
subscribers in the region.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Fibertech, which is in the process of establishing
a 250-mile fiber optic network in Pittsburgh, also plans to start moving
into that region this summer.
"It takes time to be able to file the appropriate documents to get pole
access and buy equipment," spokesman Dan Clifton said. "Since the
lawsuit (went) through, we haven't done anything specific with North
Pittsburgh because we've been focused on where we do have a network. We
will be done with that in June and will begin to explore opportunities
for business."
Hung up in court
Four companies filed complaints with the Federal Communications
Commission against North Pittsburgh Telephone Co. The FCC has ruled on
three in favor of the complainant. Here's a look at the cases:
Salsgiver Telecom Inc. v. North Pittsburgh Telephone Co.
Complaint filed: Feb. 7, 2006
Ruling: May 23, 2007
Decision: For North Pittsburgh to provide Salsgiver with immediate
access to North Pittsburgh's poles
Salsgiver Communications Inc. v. North Pittsburgh Telephone Co.
Complaint Filed: March 20, 2006
Ruling: Pending
Fiber Technologies Networks LLC v North Pittsburgh Telephone Co.
Complaint Filed: July 8, 2005
Ruling: Feb. 23, 2007
Decision: For North Pittsburgh to provide Fibertech with immediate
access to North Pittsburgh's poles for the placement of Fibertech's
attachments
DQE Communications Network Services LLC v North Pittsburgh
Telephone Co.
Complaint filed: Dec. 2, 2004
Ruling: Feb. 2, 2007
Decision: For North Pittsburgh to provide DQE with immediate access to
North Pittsburgh's poles and other facilities for the placement of DQE's
attachments/ Source: Federal Communications ComMisson/
/[EMAIL PROTECTED] | (412) 208-3820/
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