STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
Re: Implementation of Section 224 of the Act, WC Docket No. 07-245, A National Broadband 
Plan for Our Future, GN Docket No. 09-51
To achieve our vital goal of ubiquitous broadband, and to promote investment, 
competition, job creation, and our global competitiveness, we must ensure that the process for 
deploying broadband infrastructure is as efficient and streamlined as possible.  
The National Broadband Plan identified reform in pole attachment rules as an important 
step in lowering the costs of broadband investment, and encouraging the deployment of new 
facilities.  Today’s action -- an Order as well as Further Notice -- represents more concrete 
progress towards achieving our Nation’s vital broadband goals.
Timely, economical access to poles is essential to wired and wireless broadband 
deployment.  The Order we adopt today sets out many of the specifics that will encourage 
investment and deployment.  
Section 224 of the Communications Act guarantees cable operators and 
telecommunications carriers non-discriminatory access to poles, and directs the Commission to 
ensure that the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments are just and reasonable.  Today’s 
Order clarifies that these providers have a right to timely access and to use the same space- and 
cost-saving techniques that pole owners use, such as placing attachments on both sides of a pole.
The National Broadband Plan demonstrated that the U.S. is lagging globally in 
broadband, and that rapid progress is essential to our global competitiveness and to U.S. world 
leadership in innovation in the 21st century.  The National Broadband Plan also demonstrated that 
there’s no silver bullet to achieve these goals -- indeed, that many key rules and policies will 
involve the ‘blood and guts’ of broadband deployment.  Our Order today is in this category -- I 
believe it will yield real results for real people: faster, cheaper, and more widely available 
broadband.  
And the Further Notice we adopt sets the stage for the Commission to address additional 
essential topics in the near future -- such as a new methodology for setting pole rental rates, 
improved enforcement processes, and specific timelines for pole attachments.  The item also 
recognizes that it is essential to maintain safety, reliability, and sound engineering practices as we 
work to improve the pole access process.  We will continue to carefully consider suggestions 
from the utilities on these and other matters.
As this item moves forward, I encourage everyone -- pole owners, attachers, and 
customers -- to be active participants in the process.  We welcome and need your thoughtful 
comments and constructive suggestions to ensure that broadband infrastructure is deployed 
quickly, safely, and economically, which will promote competition and benefit all consumers.
I know that staff has worked long and hard on this item.  I applaud their efforts, thank 
them for what has been accomplished, and look forward to completing this rulemaking.