Structural pole loading analysis and full make-ready engineering — from NESC compliance review through NJUNS application processing, OTMR coordination, and post-construction sign-off. Serving all 50 U.S. states.
This hub covers two tightly connected engineering services that run in sequence on every aerial fiber deployment: pole loading analysis and make-ready engineering. Pole loading analysis is the structural evaluation — using tools like O-Calc Pro and SPIDA Calc in accordance with NESC requirements — that determines whether an existing utility pole can accept a new fiber attachment without violating clearance or structural standards. The output of that analysis is a per-pole determination: pass, rearrangement required, or replacement required.
Make-ready engineering picks up where the loading analysis leaves off. Once it's known which poles need work and what kind, the make-ready engineer manages the entire workflow through to completion — field survey and attachment inventory, NJUNS application submission or direct pole owner notification, coordination with all existing attachers on the route, OTMR coordination where regulations permit, and post-construction inspection and sign-off. These two services are inseparable in practice: you cannot file a make-ready application without loading data, and loading analysis without the make-ready workflow that follows is an incomplete project.
Draftech provides both services as an integrated workflow or as standalone engagements depending on project needs. ISPs pursuing BEAD grant applications frequently need pole loading analysis and cost estimates without proceeding immediately to make-ready. Others engage Draftech for full end-to-end make-ready management from the first field survey through construction clearance. Either way, the data flows between both services without the handoff friction that comes from splitting the work across multiple firms.
The following services fall under the pole loading and make-ready pillar. Each links to a dedicated service page with full process detail, pricing context, and FAQ.
NESC-compliant structural analysis using O-Calc Pro and SPIDA Calc. Full loading reports formatted for pole owner submission — required before any new aerial attachment. See Pole Loading Analysis →
Complete make-ready workflow: field survey, NJUNS applications, OTMR coordination, pole owner negotiation, and post-construction sign-off. See Make-Ready Engineering →
Application submission and tracking through NJUNS or direct pole owner notification. We manage the workflow, follow up on overdue responses, and maintain application status across all pole owners on the route.
One Touch Make-Ready project coordination where regulations apply — single-crew-visit rearrangements compressing make-ready timelines from months to weeks on eligible routes.
Review of existing joint use agreements to confirm attachment rights, notice requirements, and make-ready responsibility allocation before applications are filed — preventing disputes mid-process.
Per-pole cost estimates for project budgeting and BEAD grant applications — covering simple rearrangements through full pole replacement, with route-level totals and contingency ranges.
Pole loading analysis always precedes make-ready engineering — this is not a workflow preference, it is a practical requirement. You cannot file a make-ready application with a pole owner without loading data showing what the proposed attachment does to the structural condition of the pole. The pole owner needs that data to assess whether their own attachment needs to be moved, whether the pole has capacity, and what make-ready work (if any) they will require before approving the new attachment. Submitting an application without loading analysis is not a shortcut — it is a submission that will be rejected or indefinitely stalled.
That said, not every pole loading engagement leads immediately to make-ready. Some projects order loading analysis only — for BEAD grant application budgeting, feasibility studies, or route planning — without proceeding to make-ready right away. The loading data tells you which poles need work and at what estimated cost, which is exactly what a grant budget or financial model requires. When make-ready is needed after the analysis, Draftech can continue as the make-ready engineer without a separate mobilization or re-survey. Whether you need both services in sequence or just the loading analysis as a standalone deliverable, Draftech structures the engagement around your project timeline.
Make-ready cost is one of the most frequently underestimated line items in fiber deployment budgets. Project financial models that use a single per-pole make-ready assumption without accounting for the range of work types will routinely be wrong. Here is what the actual cost breakdown looks like by work type:
| Work Type | Cost Range | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Simple rearrangement | $200 – $500/pole | Existing attachment needs to be moved vertically to restore clearance; pole has structural capacity |
| Pole transfer | $800 – $2,500/pole | Existing attachments must be moved to an adjacent new pole due to structural failure or right-of-way constraints |
| Pole replacement | $3,000 – $8,000/pole installed | Existing pole is structurally deficient or class-inadequate and must be replaced before any new attachment |
Pole loading analysis is priced separately at $45–$75 per pole and is not included in per-mile construction totals.
Yes. Pole loading analysis is the first step — it determines which poles pass, which need rearrangement, and which need replacement. That data is required before make-ready applications can be filed. A make-ready application without structural loading data will not be approved by the pole owner.
Pole loading analysis runs $45–$75 per pole depending on pole count, data quality, and software required. This is separate from make-ready construction costs. On a 200-pole route, expect $9,000–$15,000 for the loading analysis deliverable alone.
NJUNS (National Joint Utilities Notification System) is the standard application platform used by many electric utilities and pole owners. Some pole owners, particularly smaller cooperatives and municipal utilities, don't participate in NJUNS and require direct written notification. Draftech handles both — our project managers track application status and follow up on overdue responses regardless of submission method.
Yes. Pole loading analysis can be delivered as a standalone service — commonly for BEAD grant application budgeting, feasibility studies, or route planning. If make-ready is needed after the analysis, Draftech can continue as the make-ready engineer without a separate mobilization or re-survey of the route.
Rural low-congestion routes: 8–16 weeks. Suburban mixed-density: 16–30 weeks. Urban high-congestion: 6–18 months. OTMR-eligible routes: 4–8 weeks where applicable. Timeline is primarily driven by pole owner responsiveness, the number of poles requiring replacement, and whether OTMR regulations apply to the pole owners on the route.
ARE YOU A POLE LOADING OR MAKE-READY FIRM?
If you provide pole loading analysis or make-ready engineering and are looking for a consistent subcontract pipeline, we have ongoing capacity needs in this discipline.
Whether you need a standalone loading analysis for BEAD budgeting or full make-ready management through construction sign-off, our team can scope your project and give you a realistic timeline.
Contact Our Engineering TeamOr email us directly at info@draftech.com — we reply within one business day.
SERVICE AREAS
Active in 22 states and deployable across all 50 U.S. states — including our highest-volume BEAD markets:
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