CHARLESTON — Disagreements between the companies that own utility poles and internet service providers have plagued the expansion of broadband across the state, but a new order from the West Virginia Public Service Commission could help spread out the costs of pole replacements.

The PSC issued an order Tuesday requiring cost-sharing among all new pole attachers and the owner of the pole being replaced, updating its own pole attachment rules.

“Simply put, the Commission concludes that utility actions related to pole replacements must be just, reasonable and not unduly discriminatory,” according to the order. “Considering the arguments we have heard it appears that utilities are not considering the justness and reasonableness of their failure to allocate costs for pole replacements among a

See Full Page