Federal Communications Commission FCC 07-187 SEPARATE STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS, APPROVING Re: In the Matter of Implementation of Section 224 of the Act; Amendment of the Commission’s Rules and Policies Governing Pole Attachments, WC Docket No. 07-245, RM-11293, RM-11303, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Oct. 31, 2007) While implementing pole attachment policy is one of the drier and more technical issues the Commission faces, it is also essential to ensuring that we have a competitive broadband market. I have said for some time that I believe we need to act in an expeditious fashion to resolve petitions before the agency that would clarify the rules that apply to the rates, terms and conditions for broadband providers’ access to poles. I am pleased that the Commission heads down this road today with an expansive Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that tees up the many pole-related issues sitting before us. It may be hard to imagine, but relatively simple tweaks to our current rules could greatly assist in unleashing the deployment of competitive broadband throughout the country. Goodness knows how badly we need that! I look forward to quickly completing a record upon which the Commission can act, and I am pleased to support this item.