Federal Communications Commission	"FCC/DA  XX-XXX"



DA 26-446
Released:  May 7, 2026

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES EFFECTIVE DATE 
FOR POLE ATTACHMENT RULES

WC Docket No. 17-84
On July 24, 2025, the Commission adopted the Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment Fifth Report and Order, Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Orders on Reconsideration. Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84, Fifth Report and Order, Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Orders on Reconsideration, 40 FCC Rcd 5395 (2025) (Fifth Report and Order).
  In the Fifth Report and Order, the Commission adopted rules (1) ensuring greater collaboration and cooperation between utilities and attachers, (2) establishing a timeline for large pole attachment requests, (3) improving the pole attachment timeline, and (4) speeding up the contractor approval process. Id. at 5395, para. 2.
  The Commission stated that these rule changes may contain new or modified information collection requirements and would not become effective until the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completed its review of any information collection requirements that the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) determined is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Id. at 5482, para. 153 (stating that “the Fifth Report and Order shall become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, except that the amendments to sections 1.1403(b), 1.1411(c)-(k), and 1.1412(a)-(b), (e) which may contain new or modified information collection requirements, will not become effective until the Office of Management and Budget completes review of any information collection requirements that the Wireline Competition Bureau determines is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Commission directs the Wireline Competition Bureau to announce the effective date for sections 1.1403(b), 1.1411(c)-(k), and 1.1412(a)-(b), (e) by subsequent Public Notice.”).  The Fifth Report and Order was published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2025.  90 Fed. Reg. 41726 (Aug. 26, 2025).
  The Commission also directed the Bureau to announce the effective date for the rules by subsequent Public Notice. Fifth Report and Order, 40 FCC Rcd at 5482, para. 153.

On April 17, 2026, OMB approved the information collection requirements related to the pole attachment rules contained in the Fifth Report and Order.  Pursuant to the announcement of effective date subsequently published in the Federal Register, the effective date for the amendments to sections 1.1403(b), 1.1411(c)-(k), and 1.1412(a)-(b), (e) of the Commission’s rules is May 7, 2026. 91 Fed. Reg. 24731 (May 7, 2026).

For further information regarding the pole attachment rules, contact Michael Ray, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-0357 or Michael.Ray@fcc.gov.  


2