NASHVILLE, Tenn. � Google�s One Touch Make Ready would make it legal for one contractor to move all the equipment attached to a utility pole.
When a new service provider wants to attach fiber to a utility pole, many cities currently require each company with equipment on that pole to move that equipment to make room for the new entrant; however, the new company has to submit an application to each incumbent asking them to move their equipment, and each incumbent has 60 days to respond.��The requests�often have to be sequential,�meaning that the new company must wait 60 days for one incumbent to move its equipment, and then start the process with the next one, according to�rcrwireless.com.
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�The existing system allows incumbents to be a gatekeeper to determine how long and how hard it is for new entrants to come into the marketplace,� said John Burchett, Google�s director of public policy. �If Google Fiber struggles with it, frankly with the deep pockets we�ve got, how in the heck is any smaller new entrant going to do it?� Burchett also said this � is good for communities because it will mean fewer street closures and shorter wait times for those who want high-speed internet from Google Fiber.�
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Not surprisingly, one the �incumbents� isn�t particularly interested in letting Google have its way.
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AT&T has said that Google�s proposal is a �simplistic solution to a complex problem, and that it is likely to result in service disruptions and safety concerns,� according to the same article. The carrier sued Louisville, Kentucky, after it passed One Touch Make Ready, and has hinted that it may do the same thing in Nashville.
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Google recently began slowing down construction of its fiber network because of the number of problems encountered (such as described) and hasstarted to reconsiderwireless internet transmission technologies instead. �
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