Tiñga files bill to regulate use of utility poles

MANILA, Philippines - Taguig Rep. Sigfrido Tiñga has filed a bill at the House of Representatives to regulate the use of utility poles, related support structures, and rights-of-way for the transmission of TV or telecommunications signals.

The bill, also proposed to regulate rates and the conditions for pole attachments under a just and reasonable framework.

House Bill 5179, known as the Pole Attachments Act of 2011, seeks to promote and protect the growth of the cable television and telecommunications industries, and to provide the public with wider and more affordable access to improved services.

“Despite an impressive array of technologies and innovations, the cable television and telecommunications industries have been and continue to be handicapped by the unavailability of utility poles and the lack of pole attachment regulations,” Tiñga observed.

Tiñga said that for several decades now, cable television and telecommunications companies have been using utility poles, support structures, and rights-of-way to facilitate signal distribution. This requires significant financial investments which only pole-owning power companies can afford. Cable TV operators and telecommunications corporations have often been constrained to pay pole attachment fees to pole owners.

“This has led to unjust enrichment on the part of the pole owners, curtailed service for the attaching entity, and doubled payments by the consumers,” Tiñga said.

Among its pertinent provisions, the bill proposes that pole attachments be modified and removed at the cost and responsibility of the attaching company, while maintenance and replacement of the utility poles, support structures and rights-of-ways be shouldered by the pole owner.

In case utility poles, support structures and rights- of-way in the transmission of TV or telecommunications signals are not available for pole attachment, legitimate cable TV operators and telecommunications companies shall have the option to secure and use their own.