Verizon is voicing its support for “One Touch Make Ready,” a proposal designed to speed fiber deployment by cutting through the regulatory and logistical delays associated with pole attachments.
The approach has been piloted in several U.S. metropolitan areas and has sparked controversy: notably, Comcast and AT&T sued Metro Nashville after the city adopted a One Touch Make Ready ordinance late last year.
Under current procedures, processing pole attachment requests can take months. A new carrier must contact the pole owner to request permission to attach equipment. That process often involves surveys, coordination with existing attachers, and multiple crews making the pole ready for a new attachment.
The One Touch Make Ready model would streamline that process by allowing new attachers to use pre-approved, licensed contractors who can perform all required rearrangements in a single crew visit. Opponents argue the ordinance oversteps municipal authority: as reported by the Nashville Business Journal, AT&T and Comcast asserted that Metro Nashville lacked the power to regulate utility poles in the manner prescribed by the law.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has invited public comment on the issue, a development Verizon welcomed. According to the Office of the Federal Register, stakeholders can submit comments through the FCC’s docket until July 17. Verizon also filed comments urging reform of pole attachment rules to accelerate broadband deployment.
“Verizon is in a unique position to weigh in on how these issues affect deployment,” wrote Katharine Saunders, Verizon’s associate general counsel, in a company blog post. “We are one of the few broadband providers with experience both as a pole owner and as a wireline and wireless attacher to other people’s poles.”
Saunders emphasized the growing importance of an efficient pole attachment process as wireless networks densify. “As a nationwide wireless provider, we attach our equipment to poles owned by both Verizon and by other entities nationwide,” she wrote. “With 4G densification and 5G—each of which relies on a dense network of small cell antennas—the pole attachment process becomes all the more important.”
“As we roll out next-generation wireless technology, we need practices and processes that will increase the speed and efficiency of getting new broadband facilities into the field,” Saunders added.
Industry observers have also noted Google’s interest in the matter. In a letter to the FCC secretary, Google Fiber said it was “pleased the Commission is taking up the issue of pole attachment timing” and expressed support for measures that reduce deployment delays.
Verizon’s public statements and formal filings reflect a push to modernize pole attachment policy so municipalities, carriers, and broadband providers can deploy infrastructure faster and with fewer logistical hurdles. Proponents argue the One Touch Make Ready approach reduces coordination bottlenecks, lowers costs, and shortens timelines for bringing fiber and next-generation wireless equipment online. Critics counter that it may intrude on owner control and raise safety, liability, and due-process concerns that need careful legal and regulatory consideration.
As the FCC reviews comments from carriers, municipalities, and other stakeholders, the debate over One Touch Make Ready highlights the broader challenge of balancing rapid broadband expansion with property rights, public safety, and fair access. The outcome of this regulatory review could influence how quickly communities receive upgraded broadband services and how effectively providers can deploy 4G densification and 5G networks.
For more details, Verizon published a blog post outlining its position on One Touch Make Ready and related infrastructure policies.