Joint Use of Pole Lines for Rural Power and Telephone Services

Abstract

While experience to date is still limited, it definitely has demonstrated the feasibility of higher voltage long span joint use in rural areas. Economic studies still in progress indicate that where new extensions are to be made to provide both power and telephone service, worthwhile economies can be realized in most cases by such joint construction. Where power lines already extend over the area, modification of such lines to accommodate communication circuits of course will introduce an additional element of cost. Even in this case, however, it appears that there will be an over-all economic advantage in favor of joint use as compared to separate lines. The relative field of application of joint use and of the carrier system discussed in a companion paper3 must be determined by experience. It is evident that they will supplement one another and taken together will further promote communication coverage of rural areas.