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(Watch the video recap of this thought leadership article HERE).

For some, the New Year brings about drastic change, new resolutions, ideas, or responsibilities, but at BHC we remain committed to the same goal we’ve had since 1992—connecting communities with reliable and efficient fiber internet services. From major hubs to rural cities across the country, BHC is your ‘No Problem’ engineering firm, providing exceptional telecom services so that all may be better connected within their daily lives.

BHC’s knowledge of telecommunications is vast, yet we remain innovative and constantly improve our processes and technology to better serve the country’s fiber infrastructure. One way that we have done so is through the use of a practice we call “Make Ready Ride-Out” (MRO). While we’ve added this step to the overall process, it significantly reduces the time it takes to deploy fiber, allowing us to better serve not only our clients but residents and businesses alike.

Make Ready Ride-Out is a field assessment where skilled technicians perform a visual evaluation of each pole along a particular fiber route or within a project area. During this process, technicians analyze factors like height clearances, mid-spans, and pole-loading, in accordance with National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) guidelines. Depending on the results of the assessment, the poles are then rated on a color-coded scale, determining whether the pole is ready for fiber attachment, needs to be adjusted prior to attachment, or needs to be replaced entirely. The results of these evaluations are then entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS) tablet and are processed real-time by office design staff, no matter where our clients need us.

This instant data entry allows for concise communication between those in the field and those in the office, creating a more efficient design process. It also provides us with valuable data integral to resource allocation and project planning. If design staff learns from technicians that a particular pole is inaccessible or will require replacement, they can provide alternative solutions and slight route modifications to the client, rather than designing an entire route only to find out that it is not feasible. Catching potential conflicts early allows us to save the client both time and money, enabling resource allocation elsewhere.

Make Ready Ride-Out is more than just a technical process; it’s a prime example of how engineering principles and collaboration between stakeholders—including Internet Service Providers, pole owners, and engineers—can create effective solutions for fiber deployment. Ultimately, one of the biggest factors in any fiber project is open and clear communication. Having tangible data on the condition of each pole along the route has streamlined this communication exponentially, allowing BHC to determine the feasibility of a project before many resources are expended. By partnering with pole owners early in the process, we align our clients’ goals with the requirements of infrastructure owners, ensuring a smoother and more efficient project lifecycle. This collaboration minimizes unnecessary applications, reduces project costs, and accelerates the delivery of broadband to communities.

At BHC, we’re passionate about how engineering helps our clients connect communities with broadband fiber. From project conception to completion, you can count on BHC to get the work done. Our ‘No Problem’ approach to challenges allows us to provide excellent customer service and solutions for your projects. Visit our connect page to get in touch with one of our fiber deployment experts and expand your network today.