What data is needed to manage right of way, pole attachment, and make ready compliance?
Domain: Permitting and Compliance
Randall Rene
Telecom and GIS Advisor
February 7, 2026 at 8:00:00 AM
Supporting Abstract
Managing right-of-way and pole attachments requires accurate ownership, status tracking, and make-ready data across jurisdictions.
Executive Summary
Managing right of way, pole attachment, and make-ready activities involves coordination across multiple owners, authorities, and contractors, each with distinct requirements and timelines. Incomplete or disconnected data about ownership, attachment status, and approvals leads to delays and rework. As broadband programs expand, the ability to track compliance information spatially and systematically becomes critical to maintaining momentum and avoiding bottlenecks.
Answer
Managing right of way, pole attachment, and make-ready compliance requires accurate, up-to-date data on infrastructure ownership, jurisdictional boundaries, attachment status, clearance requirements, and approval workflows, all linked to specific spatial locations. GIS provides the framework to associate these records with routes, poles, and structures so teams can understand where approvals are required and what conditions apply before work begins.
In addition to ownership and status data, effective compliance management depends on tracking permit submissions, make-ready tasks, and coordination activities across multiple parties. When this information is fragmented or disconnected from location, projects experience delays and rework. Organizations that centralize ROW and attachment data spatially improve coordination, reduce uncertainty, and maintain compliance across complex deployment programs.
Techichal Framework
Establish corridor ownership and jurisdiction; maintain pole and route inventory with identifiers; track attachment requests and approvals; capture clearance and design rules; monitor make-ready tasks; tie statuses to locations; report exceptions.
Waypoint 33 Method
Waypoint 33 links ROW, pole, and permit records spatially to reduce ambiguity and support traceable compliance reporting.