East Riding of Yorkshire Council Broadband Poles Concerns

The council is calling for an immediate pause in the installation of broadband poles and is urging an emergency review.

17:03 15 January 2024

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is set to request an emergency market review from communications regulator Ofcom following widespread concerns among residents about the installation of broadband poles in the region. Councilors unanimously supported the motion put forward by Councillor Coleen Gill, urging the council to contact Ofcom for an immediate review in the Hull Telecoms Area. The motion also calls for a temporary halt in pole installations until the review is completed, challenging the scheduled 2026 review date.

Councillor Gill emphasized the need for urgent action, expressing concerns over the proliferation of telegraph poles in areas already served by an existing gigabit-capable duct and pole network. The proposed market review, accompanied by a construction pause, aims to address several key considerations. These include imposing a requirement for telecoms companies to demonstrate efforts to reach agreements with existing providers for infrastructure access, compelling providers to disclose pricing for access, mandating formal disputes via Ofcom in case of disagreement, and prohibiting further installations until the market review concludes.

Councillor Leo Hammond, the cabinet member for planning, acknowledged residents' concerns and highlighted the council's limited authority over pole installations, citing national planning policy that permits such developments. He clarified that utility operators like MS3 and Connexin fall under Ofcom's regulation, not the council's. Hammond assured ongoing collaboration with providers within the council's legal powers and emphasized the importance of residents reporting health and safety concerns for proper monitoring and inspection.