This article in a Connecticut daily details the complaints that independent telcos Thames Valley Communications and Fiber Technology Networks LLC are putting forward on obtaining rights of way on utility poles in order to deploy fiber access networks.

Companies or towns that want to use fiber-optic networks to deliver services must apply to AT&T to get space on the utility poles as they expand their networks in what are considered “public rights of way.” AT&T jointly owns most of the state’s more than 800,000 utility poles with CL&P, United Illuminating and smaller outfits, and handles telecommunication connections for the utilities, Moreira said.