When it comes to broadband expansion, “make-ready” work is often treated like a line item on a checklist — a box to tick before the real construction begins. But for those of us in the trenches, we know that make-ready can make or break a project.
At Collaborative Synergy, we’ve spent years navigating the complexities of pole attachments, permitting, and coordination with utilities. If there's one thing we've learned, it’s this: make-ready is never one-size-fits-all.
“People assume make-ready is just a formality. But every utility, every city, every co-op has its own process, its own quirks,” says Johannes Maassen, founder of Collaborative Synergy. “It’s not cookie cutter — far from it.”
Every Utility Speaks a Different Language
One of the most persistent challenges in make-ready work is dealing with utility-specific requirements. In some regions, power companies require full pole loading analysis. Others accept a spreadsheet with a pole number and attachment height. Some cities accept digital submittals through sophisticated portals; others still demand handwritten PDFs.
“We’ve had to fill out uneditable PDF forms by hand — because that’s what the power company required,” says Maassen. “On the other hand, in places like San Diego, you can track pole history, submit digitally, and get automated updates.”
It’s not just about preferences. Utilities in areas prone to hurricanes, fires, or extreme cold weather often enforce stricter standards — like higher-grade pole loading even when existing infrastructure doesn’t meet those grades.
"We’ve had utilities request grade B loading analysis across the board, unaware that poles were built to grade C back in the ’60s. We want to help them get the best analysis possible, so we work to say yes first, gather the data, then use that evidence to guide a more practical conversation which serves the customer.”
The Bad Pole Problem
This challenge is amplified by a growing national issue: deteriorated poles.
In a recent blog post titled “Why Are There So Many Bad Poles?”, telecom analyst Doug Dawson discusses pole replacement timelines and variances among utilities.
“All wooden poles naturally rot and decay over time and eventually go bad. Industry literature abounds with estimates that wood poles should last between thirty and fifty years,” writes Dawson. “Those lives would suggest that perhaps 2.5% of deteriorated poles should be replaced with new ones every year.”
Despite the industry standard suggesting a 30- to 50-year lifespan, many poles in service today are beyond that range.
For new fiber deployers, this means added cost and delays. As Dawson points out, utilities frequently expect ISPs to pay for pole replacements when applying for new attachments, turning make-ready into a budgeting nightmare.
These observations reinforce what Maassen sees every day on the ground.
“We try to work with utilities early — because if we discover that a pole won’t support new attachments or has to be replaced, we’d rather know that before the design is finalized or construction starts.”
Rejections Aren’t Failures — They’re Feedback
Guess what? That rejection from the power company isn’t a sign of failure. At Collaborative Synergy, we see it as the start of the conversation.
“We don’t see rejections — we see feedback,” says Maassen. “It helps us align with what that utility wants. And we usually turn around a revised submittal within 24 hours, with a stronger approach that ensures likely approval. Speed matters when projects are under tight timelines.”
Make-Ready Right
Make-ready work is becoming more critical and more complicated as pole infrastructure ages and fiber expansion accelerates. Assumptions and shortcuts can derail entire broadband projects.
At Collaborative Synergy, we’ve built our reputation by treating make-ready as the critical infrastructure it truly is — tailoring our approach for each unique environment, utility, and client.
“When you spend more time upfront, you save time down the line,” says Maassen. “And that’s what we’re here to do.”
