New program allows utilities and broadband providers to establish engineering workflows before projects begin, reducing delays when permitting and pole work accelerates
Collaborative Synergy, an engineering services firm specializing in pole analysis, make-ready engineering, and permitting review support for utilities, today announced a No-Commitment Onboarding Program designed to help utilities prepare engineering processes before infrastructure projects begin.
As electric utilities and broadband providers prepare for a surge in infrastructure deployment, engineering capacity and permitting readiness are becoming critical operational challenges. The program enables utilities and communications providers to establish workflows, technical standards, and data integrations in advance, allowing engineering work to begin more quickly when projects move forward.
The approach differs from typical engineering contracting models, where firms begin onboarding only after a project has been formally authorized.
“Most engineering firms start onboarding once work is already underway,” Maassen said. “We’re helping utilities prepare their engineering processes ahead of time so they can respond faster when projects ramp up.”
Collaborative Synergy supports utilities and telecommunications providers nationwide with services, including pole loading analysis, attachment application support, make-ready engineering, and permitting preparation for joint-use infrastructure. These processes determine whether existing utility poles can support new communications attachments and identify any modifications required to safely accommodate additional infrastructure.
The No-Commitment Onboarding Program helps utilities prepare for future projects by establishing:
• engineering workflows and communication protocols
• data exchange and mapping standards
• software integrations with permitting platforms
• project documentation and submission processes
With these elements in place, utilities and project partners can move more quickly once engineering work begins.
Demand for pole attachment engineering and permitting support is rising as utilities respond to broadband expansion and grid infrastructure upgrades. Federal broadband programs such as BEAD are expected to drive significant new fiber construction across rural and underserved communities, increasing the volume of pole attachment reviews and engineering assessments utilities must process.
For many smaller utilities and electric cooperatives, the challenge is not long-term staffing but short-duration workload spikes that can overwhelm internal teams.
“We see this as relationship building rather than just project work,” Maassen said. “Utilities shouldn’t have to scramble to onboard engineering vendors when the workload arrives. Our goal is to be ready before that happens.”
The No-Commitment Onboarding Program is now available to utilities, cooperatives, and communications providers seeking to prepare engineering support ahead of future infrastructure projects.
About Collaborative Synergy
Established in 2019, Collaborative Synergy provides engineering support services for utilities and telecommunications providers, specializing in pole loading analysis, make-ready engineering preparation, and permitting documentation required for joint-use attachments. The company helps clients streamline engineering workflows and accelerate infrastructure deployment through responsive service, technical accuracy, and close collaboration with client teams.
Learn more at csynergy.com and subscribe to our quarterly Make-Ready Report. Follow us on LinkedIn.
