Mi-Tech’s Joint Use team members work hard in assisting communication providers and power utilities with coordination on joint use. For years, utilities have jointly used or “shared” the same utility poles with many companies and municipalities.
For example, when Company A wants to attach a line or attach to a pole owned by Company B, i.e., rent space as a tenant, they must get permission from the pole owner, Company B.
In cases like this one, both companies need the specialized services of our Joint Use experts. Our Team ensures joint use applications are complete and that we file permits, check structural load capacity, complete final make-ready designs, and sign off on final inspections.
Mi-Tech and one of our client’s Joint Facilities Department worked closely together to create a procedure to ensure we addressed and implemented all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) timelines and required steps with their new Attachment Tracking System (ATS). Due to the ever-changing nature of our business, we continuously improve our procedures to accommodate legislation and lessons learned.
When a new project comes through the ATS, we review the proposal to ensure all the proper documents are submitted and clearly state the scope of work before accepting the project request. The Engineering staff is notified of the project and receives feedback regarding upcoming planned work, along with issues and insights from local engineers.
After accepting the project request, Mi-Tech’s staff prepares project maps and collects geographic information system (GIS) and conductor data needed throughout the project.
Mi-Tech then completes a pre-inspection site survey to gather data on the project, including pole and midspan measurements, pole data (height, class, material, red tags, etc.), and project survey pictures (poles, midspans, pole number tags, anchors, etc.). Our field crew also verifies that the proposed design will work and may include additional information, such as surveying extra poles if needed for guying or addressing code and standards issues.
Our staff completes a design review with the submitted and collected field data. Utility conductors and communications midspans are then loaded per National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) code to confirm that required cable and ground clearances are met. After reviewing proposed attachment heights (adjusting them, if necessary) and calculating the guying design, we use O-Calc Pro, structural analysis software for utility poles, to complete the pole structure analysis on all poles. A guy is a tensioned cable designed to stabilize a free-standing structure such as a utility pole. Finally, we conduct Grade B and Grade C construction depending on the circumstance.
Our Team completes the make-ready design to ensure all code and standards are met and recommends replacement or reframing of poles if they are overloaded. The make-ready design may include work by the Power Company, the requesting attaching company, and other joint use attachers. Then, the approved design is submitted to the ATS and serves as a “walkthrough summary,” comprised of the official permit documentation, approved attachment heights, and a summary of make-ready work for all joint use attachers.
The walkthrough summary and Power Company make-ready design are sent to Mi-Tech’s Energy Distribution Team to review the proposed design, complete power company make-ready estimates, and coordinate with Power Company engineers for approval.
Upon approval by the Power Company, we finalize and submit project estimates to the requesting attacher.
When the requesting attacher accepts the approved design and estimate, our Energy Distribution Team prepares project job cards, bill of materials, project maps, permitting, and any other necessary documentation or help that construction crews need.
We serve as the central point of contact for all parties involved in the joint use project. We assist in providing and clarifying design details and make-ready plans for involved parties, which includes exchanging contact information, project costs, pre-construction review of projects, pre-construction site visits and meetings, and other tasks to facilitate the project. Consequently, Mi-Tech’s objective is to ensure all project timelines adhere to FCC-mandated timelines.
After construction crews install the new facility on the pole, Mi-Tech completes post-construction site inspections to verify that new attachment heights and clearances at poles and midspans are acceptable. We also confirm that construction crews install guying per specifications. Additionally, Mi-Tech collects final design data to complete inspection documentation and GIS updates. Then, a post-construction inspection report is submitted to the ATS. If any violations or issues need to be addressed, Mi-Tech facilitates the process and conducts a subsequent post-construction site visit to confirm that everything on the project adheres to NESC code and Power Company standards.
Our Joint Use Team completes updates for the Power Company’s GIS department, including verifying and updating pole tag numbers, pole sizes, joint use pole attachments, GPS coordinates, etc.
Lastly, we work with joint facilities on final billing and verify that neither party needs to address any issues before closing the project.
Mi-Tech is contracted by many communications companies that submit permits to utility power companies. Our strong relationships with all parties involved streamline the permitting process and reduce timelines and costs. This work requires a detailed eye, exceptional communication skills, and dedication to see the project through from pre- to post-construction. We have all these qualities in abundance, and we love seeing our Team’s smiling faces as we complete the job for our clients!