A pole attachment agreement is required prior to installation of any attachments. If the utility does not have a pole attachment agreement with Connexus, contact the Group Leader - Distribution Design to establish one.

Once a pole attachment agreement is in place, permission and coordination of the installation of communication equipment on Connexus-owned facilities can be obtained by contacting the joint use designer. Connexus will conduct an analysis of available pole space, the ability to support additional loading, clearance calculations, and identification of required changes.

An application filed with Connexus is required to begin the process. Additional information is necessary to complete a pole strength analysis. Please refer to the Pole Attachment Application Submittal Requirements for information.

A maximum of 100 attachments are allowed per application. Field data sheet(s) and other required information must be attached with the application, along with a $250 application fee.

Pole Attachment Application
Pole Attachment Data Sheet
Data Sheet Example

The utility requesting attachment is responsible for all city, county, and/or state permits and easements, including any associated fees. In all situations, prior permission must be obtained from property owners and governmental entities for use of private property and public road rights-of-way. Connexus assumes no responsibility for securing such required permission, and the utility requesting attachment should assume that no such permission exists based solely on the presence of existing Connexus facilities.

Overlashing of existing cables will change the weight and potential ice loading for an existing attachment, and as such requires updated analysis. Overlashing shall be treated like a new attachment, including full analysis and reporting requirements.

The following technical and design requirements shall be followed for any joint use attachment to Connexus facilities. Joint use attachments that do not follow these requirements must be modified or removed.

• Communication cables shall use their own guy(s) and anchors. Use of the Connexus anchoring system is not permitted.
• Anchors and guys shall be installed at all dead ends and at line angles.

• Anchors and guys shall be in line with the strain at the dead ends. Bisector guys shall be installed at all line angles.

• Anchors and guys shall be installed where the cable has been temporarily dead-ended (for example, when construction has ceased at the end of the working day or for the weekend). Sidewalk guys or push poles shall not be used on Connexus poles to guy communications attachments at angles or dead ends.

• Anchors shall be installed according to manufacturers’ recommendations and utility industry practices.

• Anchors shall be installed so that there is at least a five-foot separation from Connexus anchors.

• At all dead ends and angles, the anchors and guys shall be installed before the cable is pulled up and sagged in.

• Communication cables must be installed without the use of extension arms, standoff brackets, or similar hardware (unless approved in advance by Connexus per pole for specific installations).

• Communication cables must be installed on the same side of the poles (typically the road side) as other attachments. Pole attachments to both sides of the same pole are not permissible.

• The communication cable messenger (strand) shall be bonded to all Connexus pole grounds.

• All riser cables shall be installed in conduit, U-guard, or otherwise protected.

• No mid-span or flying tap connections of any type are allowed.

• All attachments shall comply with NESC clearance requirements and shall be located a minimum of forty (40) inches below Connexus Energy's lowest attached facilities. All mid-span clearances between communication facilities and the lowest conductors of Connexus facilities shall comply with NESC clearance requirements.

• The overhead line with communication attachments must meet a minimum of Grade C construction as defined by the NESC. This may, in some cases, require Connexus to inter-set poles in-line or replace existing poles with stronger ones. Connexus will not allow communication companies to inter-set their poles in Connexus Energy's primary or secondary lines.

• Attachments shall not encroach into the communication worker safety zone, even at road crossings.

• All power connections to communication equipment shall have a disconnecting means and be protected with an approved fuse and/or breaker. No service connections shall be made without the installation of an approved fused service disconnecting switch or breaker. For unmetered services, the disconnecting device must be accessible at all times by Connexus personnel.

• No bolts installed on a Connexus pole for joint use attachments shall extend or project more than one inch beyond its nut.

• All attachments shall have at least twelve inches of separation from other utilities’ communication attachments.

• All attachments shall be tagged with company name using a colored tag. Identification tag must:
  • Be attached directly to the communication cable, messenger, or cable clamp.
  • Be attached within 1 foot of the pole.
  • Not be attached directly to the pole.
  • Be attached to allow the identification code to be visible from the street.

• To facilitate Connexus Energy's notification to attaching utilities in emergency situations, all antennas and all related boxes and equipment shall be identified with the following information:

• The attaching utility’s generally recognized business name.
• An emergency telephone number.