47 C.F.R. § 1.1412

(a) Contractors for self-help complex and above the communications space make-ready. A utility shall make available and keep up-to-date a reasonably sufficient list of contractors it authorizes to perform self-help surveys and make-ready that is complex and self-help surveys and make-ready that is above the communications space on its poles. The new attacher must use a contractor from this list to perform self-help work that is complex or above the communications space. New and existing attachers may request the addition to the list of any contractor that meets the minimum qualifications in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of this section and the utility may not unreasonably withhold its consent.

(b) Contractors for simple work. A utility may, but is not required to, keep up-to-date a reasonably sufficient list of contractors it authorizes to perform surveys, estimates, and simple make-ready. If a utility provides such a list, then the new attacher must choose a contractor from the list to perform the work. New and existing attachers may request the addition to the list of any contractor that meets the minimum qualifications in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of this section and the utility may not unreasonably withhold its consent.

(1) If the utility does not provide a list of approved contractors for surveys, estimates, or simple make-ready or no utility-approved contractor is available within a reasonable time period, then the new attacher may choose its own qualified contractor that meets the requirements in paragraph (c) of this section. When choosing a contractor that is not on a utility-provided list, the new attacher must certify to the utility that its contractor meets the minimum qualifications described in paragraph (c) of this section when providing notices required by § 1.1411(j)(1)(ii), (j)(2)(i), (k)(3)(i), and (k)(4).

(2) The utility may disqualify any contractor chosen by the new attacher that is not on a utility-provided list, but such disqualification must be based on reasonable safety or reliability concerns related to the contractor's failure to meet any of the minimum qualifications described in paragraph (c) of this section or to meet the utility's publicly available and commercially reasonable safety or reliability standards. The utility must provide notice of its contractor objection within the notice periods provided by the new attacher in § 1.1411(j)(1)(ii), (j)(2)(i), (k)(3)(i), and (k)(4) and in its objection must identify at least one available qualified contractor.

(c) Contractor minimum qualification requirements. Utilities must ensure that contractors on a utility-provided list, and new attachers must ensure that contractors they select pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section, meet the following minimum requirements:

(1) The contractor has agreed to follow published safety and operational guidelines of the utility, if available, but if unavailable, the contractor shall agree to follow National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) guidelines;

(2) The contractor has acknowledged that it knows how to read and follow licensed-engineered pole designs for make-ready, if required by the utility;

(3) The contractor has agreed to follow all local, state, and federal laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the rules regarding Qualified and Competent Persons under the requirements of the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) rules;

(4) The contractor has agreed to meet or exceed any uniformly applied and reasonable safety and reliability thresholds set by the utility, if made available; and

(5) The contractor is adequately insured or will establish an adequate performance bond for the make-ready it will perform, including work it will perform on facilities owned by existing attachers.

(d) The consulting representative of an electric utility may make final determinations, on a nondiscriminatory basis, where there is insufficient capacity and for reasons of safety, reliability, and generally applicable engineering purposes.

(e) Utilities must respond to an attacher's request to add contractors to their lists of contractors authorized to perform self-help surveys, estimates, and make-ready, as provided by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, within 30 days of receipt.

(1) The response must state whether the contractor meets the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section and will be added to the utility's list of approved contractors for survey, estimate, and make-ready work pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section following the successful completion of any reasonable steps to begin work established by the utility. For contractors proposed to perform work above the communications space, such reasonable steps may include any evaluation, approval, orientation, or other requirements that the utility would ordinarily apply to contractors that perform work on its electric power system. If the contractor has been denied, the response must describe the bases for rejection, be nondiscriminatory, and based on a fair application of commercially reasonable requirements for contractors related to issues of safety or reliability.

(2) If a utility fails to provide the response required by paragraph (e)(1) of this section within 30 days of receipt of an attacher's request, the contractor proposed by the attacher will be deemed approved to perform self-help surveys, estimates, and make-ready work on the utility's poles consistent with paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section, and must be added to the utility's approved list of contractors following the successful completion of any reasonable steps to begin work established by the utility.

(3) A utility may disqualify a contractor that has been approved pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) or deemed approved pursuant to paragraph (e)(2) based on reasonable safety or reliability concerns related to the contractor's failure to meet any of the minimum qualifications described in paragraph (c) of this section or to meet the utility's uniformly applied and reasonable safety or reliability standards. Written notice must be provided to the attacher stating the specific safety and reliability bases for the disqualification.