Ad
Featured
City to host virtual town hall Thursday on fiber installation complaints
John Orlovsky shows Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller damage, in May, that was done during a Ezee Fiber construction project.
Published
Modified
The city of Albuquerque will host a virtual town hall Thursday to solicit complaints about fiber installation and collect opinions on new rules meant to regulate the installation of fiber optic lines underneath roadways and sidewalks.
The city’s Municipal Development Department, along with the Planning Department and Department of Technology and Innovation, placed all three fiber installation companies, Ezee Fiber, Gigapower and Vexus Fiber, licensed to lay down the high-speed internet options in Albuquerque under stop-work orders.
Only the order for Gigapower has been rescinded after the company worked it’s way back to compliance.
The orders prevented the companies from building the fiber lines, which the city has called infrastructure upgrades, because officials found that installers damaged roads and disturbed neighbors’ property. That caused the city to issue stricter rules, seeking to curtail the problems.
“Whenever we make a large rule change, we want to hear from people about the rules,” said Dan Mayfield, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Municipal Development.
The new rules include requiring installers to work during regular working hours, clearly marking which companies they’re working for, providing proof that neighbors have been notified that work is starting, and setting deadlines for addressing complaints.
Violations of the rules can be met with more stop-work orders and fines.
The Albuquerque City Council also established a working group with the three fiber firms — to resolve the issues.
The meeting on Thursday is intended to address unrepaired property damage, damage to public infrastructure such as sidewalks, work conducted outside of regular hours and subcontractors working without visible identification.
The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom with the meeting ID 87326296926 or by phone at 1-669-444-9171. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Written public comments can be submitted to aeye@cabq.gov.
