RON JOHNSON COMMITTEES: WISCONSIN BUDGET FINANCE HOMELAND SECURITY AND tlnitrd ~tatrs ~rnatr GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, DC 20510 March I 7, 2023 265 The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel Chairwoman Federal Communications Commission 45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairwoman Rosenworcel: I write to you regarding the status of the FCC's proposed rule, Accelerating Wireline and Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment. 1 Comments on this second notice of further proposed rulemaking were due on June 27, 2022, and reply comments were due on July 27, 2022.2 Seven months have passed, and the FCC has not yet issued a final rule. I urge you to prioritize issuing a final rule to set clear standards on cost sharing of upgrades and replacements to utility poles. In your statement on this rulemaking, you wrote "we can't afford to have access to utility poles become an impediment to broadband deployment."3 You further added, "[i]t' s essential that we have policies in place that make sure [high-speed infrastructure] dollars are used in a cost-effective way and that pole attachment policies facilitate, rather than impede, broadband buildout."4 Commissioner Brendan Carr noted, "the more clarity we can provide with regard to pole replacements, the faster access to poles can be granted and the faster families can get connected" to the Internet.5 I agree with you and Commissioner Carr that the FCC needs to provide standards on the issue of cost-sharing between pole owners and attachers for replacements and attachments. I am hopeful that such action will ensure reliable internet access to under- and unserved areas of Wisconsin as promptly and efficiently as possible. While I understand this is a complex issue, I am disappointed the FCC has not issued a final rule seven months after closing comments on the second notice. I encourage the FCC to quickly issue a final rule. Sincerely, Senator Ron Johnson 1 Accelerating Wireline and Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, 87 Fed. Reg. 25181 (proposed Apr. 28, 2022) (to be codified at 47 C.F.R. pt. I). z Id. 3 Statement of Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, F.C.C. (Mar. 16, 2022), available at https://www.fcc.gov/ document/fcc-seeks-comment-resolving-disputes-over-pole-replacement-costs/rosenworcel-statement. 4 Id. 5 Statement of Commissioner Brendan Carr, F.C.C. (Mar. 16, 2022), available at https :/ /www.fee.gov/ document/fcc-seeks-comment-reso Ivi ng -d isputes-over-po le-replacement-costs/ carr-statement. WASHINGTON OFFI CE: OSHKOS H OFFICE: M ILWAUKEE OFFICE: M AD ISO N OFFICE: 328 HART SENATE OF FICE BUILDING 219 W AS HINGTO N AVE NUE, SUITE 100 517 EAST WISCO NSIN AVEN UE, SUITE 408 531 5 W ALL STREET, SUITE 110 W AS HIN GTON, DC 20510 OSHK OS H, WI 54901 MILWA UKEE, WI 53202 M ADI SO N, WI 53718 (202) 224-5323 (920) 230-7250 (414) 276-7282 (6081 240-9629 www. ronjohn son.se nate.gov RON JOHNSON COMMITTEES: WISCONSIN BUDGET FINANCE HOMELAND SECURITY AND tlnitrd ~tatrs ~rnatr GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, DC 20510 cc: Commissioner Brendan Carr Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Commissioner Nathan Simington WASHINGTON OFFICE : OS HKOS H OFFICE: MILWAUKEE OFFICE : MADISO N OFF ICE: 328 HART SENATE O FFICE BUILDING 219 W AS HI NGTON AVE NU E, SUITE 100 517 EAST WISCO NSIN AVE NUE, SUITE 408 5315 W ALL STREET, SUITE 110 W AS HIN GTON, DC 20510 OSHK OS H, WI 54901 MILWAUKEE, WI 53202 M ADISO N, WI 53718 (202) 224--5323 (920) 230-7250 (414) 276-7282 (608) 240-9629 www.ronjohnson.senate. gov