In 2026, MRE Strengthening America’s Utility Infrastructure

Telecommunications, electric utilities, and internet providers often share the same poles—making Make-Ready Engineering Design (MRE) and Pole Load Analysis (PLA) critical steps in ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance.

Make-Ready Engineering Design refers to the process of preparing existing utility poles for new equipment attachments, whether it’s fiber cables, antennas, or electrical components by analyzing the current pole’s capacity and making necessary modifications before installation. Pole Load Analysis (PLA), on the other hand, assesses how much additional load a pole can handle without compromising structural integrity. Together, these two processes form the backbone of modern utility planning.

Why Make-Ready Engineering Design Matters?

When new telecom or power lines are added to a pole, the existing infrastructure must be evaluated to ensure it can handle the extra load, wind pressure, and environmental factors. A make-ready design helps utilities and engineering firms:

Prevent pole failures and network outages

• Meet safety standards set by the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
• Ensure compliance with federal broadband expansion initiatives
• Optimize costs by identifying whether to reinforce, replace, or reuse existing poles

Without proper make-ready pole analysis, a single overloaded pole can lead to service disruptions, safety hazards, and regulatory penalties.

Key Components of Make-Ready Engineering Design

A well-executed make-ready engineering design typically includes:

Field Data Collection: Surveying existing poles, attachments, and ground clearances using LiDAR scans or drone-based imaging.

Pole Load Analysis (PLA): Determining the structural strength of each pole under additional loads from new fiber, 5G antennas, or power cables.

Attachment Evaluation: Reviewing existing attachments to ensure compliance with clearance, spacing, and safety standards.

Design Recommendations: Creating engineering drawings and reports indicating necessary modifications such as pole replacements, guy wire additions, or pole height adjustments.

Permit & Compliance Support: Submitting design and analysis reports to relevant authorities for final approval before implementation.

Demand for Make-Ready Engineering and PLA

The demand for make-ready engineering design is rising across the United States, especially in regions expanding their communication and energy infrastructure.

Broadband Expansion Projects: As part of the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program, states such as Texas, Ohio, and Georgia are deploying thousands of miles of fibre optic networks in rural areas. Make-ready design ensures poles can safely support new fibre attachments.

5G Network Rollout: Urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are seeing a surge in small cell deployments, requiring updated pole load analysis to accommodate antennas and associated equipment.

Utility Hardening Projects: States prone to severe weather, such as Florida and California, are upgrading poles for resilience against high winds and wildfires—making PLA vital to prevent failures.

Grid Modernization Initiatives: Electric utilities across the midwest are integrating smart grid components, necessitating make-ready evaluations for communication cables and sensors.

Make-Ready Engineering Design for Pole Load Analysis is not just a regulatory formality—it’s a safeguard for America’s power and communication backbone. As the U.S. accelerates its digital transformation, ensuring that every utility pole can handle the load of tomorrow’s technology is essential.

By combining advanced surveying tools, accurate pole load modelling, and expert engineering insight, make-ready design services are enabling a smarter, safer, and more connected future for the United States.