Council Gives Final Approval to Google-Backed 'One Touch Make Ready'

NASHVILLE, TN — On a voice vote, the Metro Council gave the third and final approval to a bill that will make it easier for Google to install its gigabit fiber technology on the city's utility poles.

As fast as that Internet service might be, the lawsuits might be filed faster.

Essentially, the change, Google argued, will speed up the installation process by allowing one approved contractor to move every line — electric, phone, internet, cable — at once to make room for a new user. Under the existing rule, when a new line is added, each existing line must be moved by its owner.

On the other hand, AT&T has argued that the change would complicate their contracts with unionized workers and that the Federal Communications Commission, not the Metro Council, governs their poles in any event, an argument that held water even with the council's attorney. Comcast has expressed concerns about worker safety and service disruptions.

AT&T essentially promised a lawsuit against the city if the bill becomes law and has indeed already sued Louisville, Ky. after that city's council passed similar Google-backed legislation.

Mayor Megan Barry, who throughout the protracted debate, never said if she was for or against the legislation, said she will sign it. In a statement, she was resigned to the fact that the dispute will end up court, but expressed hope it isn't tied up in litigation for very long.

“One Touch Make Ready appears to be a common-sense way of speeding up the deployment of high-speed internet throughout Davidson County. Unfortunately, the likelihood of protracted litigation could delay implementation of this law designed to benefit Nashville’s consumers. That is why I encouraged fiber providers to work together on a solution they could all agree upon, which they were not able to do. My hope now is that any potential legal disputes over this new law can be resolved quickly, and we can move forward with expanding fiber access throughout the city,” she said.

Various efforts to defer the bill or tweak its requirements were defeated at Tuesday's meeting.

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