PCCA Journal|3
rd
Quarter 2015
12
they are taking reasonable steps to offer
broadband throughout the entire service
area. Remaining questions and ambigu-
ity led PCCA to reach out to FCC to learn
more about the CAF program and how
CAF resources are distributed and ac-
cessed by the appropriate parties.
PCCA met with FCC staff on Octo-
ber 14, but it became clear that an-
other meeting would be necessary with
representatives of the FCC’s Wireline
Competition Bureau. We held that
meeting on November 16 (after press
time) to discuss how best to promote
the CAF program and educate interested
stakeholders about the program and the
federal assistance dollars associated with
it.
Federal Motor Carriers
Safety Administration
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s
Federal Motor Carriers Safety Adminis-
tration (FMCSA) oversees Hours-of-Ser-
vice (HOS) regulations subject to com-
mercial drivers. PCCA members maintain
large numbers of utility fleets that are
obviously impacted by HOS regulations
and have a particular interest in pending
electronic logging device (ELD) regula-
tions. The PCCA team knew that forging
an effective relationship with FMCSA
was a must. Soon after PCCA folks
headed home from their Washington
visit, they had FMCSA staff on a confer-
ence call to ensure that the power and
communications industry fell under the
exemption for “Utility Service Vehicles”
from HOS requirements when respond-
ing to utility service calls to maintain
and repair essential utility services.
After a productive discussion with
FMSCA’s Driver and Carrier Operations
Division, PCCA was pleased to report
to its membership that utility vehicles
maintained by contractors fall under the
HOS exemptions, which apply when
USV’s are “repairing, maintaining, or
operating” utility facilities. (See article
on HOS exemptions on page 15.)
It is worth noting that during that call,
PCCA was able to explain to FMCSA
staff that the majority of electric power
and communications construction work
is contracted out, a point that surprised
some FMCSA representatives on the call.
The increasing role that contractors are
playing in the industry is an important
and often neglected point to make when
discussing these issues with congres-
sional and regulatory audiences. FMCSA
appreciated this fact and agreed to add
PCCA to its list of industry stakeholders
that periodically evaluate HOS initiatives
and updates.
Suiting Up for
Future Advocacy
At press time, PCCA was preparing for
its second trip to D.C. only weeks after
the very successful fly-in event in Octo-
ber. Six PCCA representatives were head-
ing back to Washington to learn more
about NTCA programs and support this
important part of our industry’s custom-
er base with their efforts on Capitol Hill.
Over the next several months, PCCA
will refine and expand its legislative
agenda to include other issues of im-
portance to the industry. Some of these
include:
• Support of public policy that provides
a level playing field for union and
non-union contractors in the federal
procurement process;
• Support for comprehensive energy
legislation, including provisions to:
»
Streamline the permitting pro-
cess for power transmission and
distribution infrastructure improve-
ments;
»
Reform the pipeline permitting pro-
cess to expedite projects to deliver
natural gas, a commonly used fuel
for the generation of electricity;
»
Incentivize upgrades to electric
transmission and distribution infra-
structure; and
»
Support efforts to recruit and retain
workers to provide a strong “21st
Century Workforce.”
PCCA will also engage other govern-
ment and industry audiences, including
the Broadband Opportunity Council, the
National Rural Electric Cooperative, and
the Common Ground Alliance.
On a personal note, after being
involved in Washington business for
almost 25 years, I have to say witness-
ing the enthusiasm and interest of PCCA
members in jumping into the sometimes-
intimidating world of federal lobby-
ing has been exciting to see, and I’m
honored to be a part of this important
effort. Construction contractors increas-
ingly play a bigger role in building and
maintaining a wide range of critical
infrastructure, and the power and com-
munication sector must be considered
among the highest of importance. I look
forward to working with all of you.
Eben Wyman, PCCA’s new government
relations representative, has worked in
Washington, D.C., for 24 years, starting
at the DOT’s Office of Pipeline Safety,
followed by 12 years as Government
Relations Director for the National Util-
ity Contractors Association. In 2012, he
founded E. Wyman Associates, which
represents several association clients
that serve contractors, manufacturers,
and distributors operating in various
segments of the construction industry.
His other clients include the Distribution
Contractors Association, the Plastics Pipe
Institute, and the Sustainable Water In-
frastructure Coalition. He can be reached
at
eben@wymanassociates.net .Inside Washington
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