1. The Oregon Joint Use Association A Progressive Model for Industry Cooperation Sue Vogel IEEE Standards Association s.vogel@ieee.org

2. IEEE-ISTO Confidential Contents Introduction A Challenge Of Significant Proportions A Brief History The Tipping Point For Change Consistency Amidst The Confusion The Oregon Model And The OJUA A Structure For Success The PUC’s Role In The OJUA Partnership Measures Of Success

3. 3 Introduction  97% of electric transmission in the US uses overhead facilities –These are ubiquitous, and largely ignored by the public  Natural Disasters have a dramatic impact on overhead facilities in terms of safety and reliability, for example: –Hurricane Sandy caused 8.7 million outages across 20 states and the District of Columbia –Directly affected by Sandy were 18,617 poles, as well as aerial lines and transformers  Proper Maintenance and Design might have reduced these figures

4. 4 A Challenge Of Significant Proportions  160M utility poles in the US –All require inspection and maintenance  3,300 independent electric utilities  6,500 wireline/backhaul telecomm providers  How will these facilities be properly maintained?  Who will be responsible for maintenance?

5. 5 A Brief History  The Bell System insured consistent and thorough design standards and maintenance practices –‘Ma Bell was broken up in 1984  CATV began to attached to utility poles beginning in the late 1950’s –Pole Attachment Act of 1978  Pole “Owners” were responsible to allow attachment –Rules for attachment were inconsistent and unclear

6. 6 The Tipping Point For Change  Explosive Growth of Communication Technologies beginning in the 1980’s –Personal computing, fiber optics and broadband Internet  Regulatory “Catch-Up” –Communications Act of 1934 –Telecommunications Act of 1996  Increased Competition –CATV, CLEC’s, Wireless, etc. –Reduced Consistency, Reliability and Safety

7. 7 Consistency Amidst The Confusion  The NESC –First issued in 1914 –IEEE became Secretariat in 1972  A Consistent and Reliable Standard –Best Practices –Reliable and Safe Design –Vetted Safety methods over 100 years  How to guarantee compliance with limited resources?

8. 8 The Oregon Model And The OJUA  Joint Use Controversy of 1999 –Incumbent utilities –New industry entrants  The Oregon Task Force –Comprehensive Audit 10,000 unauthorized attachments –Systematic approach for certifying pole attachments –Recommendations for non-compliance sanctions  Birth of the OJUA –Following the success of the Task Force –Permanent Industry Workgroup –Inclusive of all participants in the ecosystem

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10. 10 A Structure For Success

11. 11 The PUC’s Role In The OJUA Partnership

12. 12 Measures Of Success  OPUC-OJUA partnership –Ratepayer Benefits Safe and reliable service –Utility Worker Benefits A safer workplace –Utility and Communication Company Benefits More reliable system Fewer ratepayer complaints Lower long-term maintenance costs Greater system resistance

13. 13 Thank You!