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Two internet service providers to resume work in Albuquerque
John Orlovsky shows Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller damage, in May, that was done during a Ezee Fiber construction project.
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The city of Albuquerque will be lifting stop-work orders for two fiber internet service providers on Monday.
The city placed Ezee Fiber and Vexus Fiber under the orders earlier in the year after it received complaints that included workers leaving yards damaged, working outside normal hours, blocking driveways and busting sidewalks.
In at least one instance, the city said Ezee Fiber hit a gas line, the Journal reported.
City inspectors went out and made sure all of the incomplete work had been finished, Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said.
“We’re happy to give you a permit, but you have to clean up the yards you messed up first before we give you a new permit,” he said.
Vexus Fiber and Ezee Fiber did not respond to requests for comment.
In May, the city council adopted a resolution establishing a working group — consisting of the city, installers, state public regulation commission and utility companies — and temporarily suspending new development permits as the working group reviewed the situation.
The city used information that was discussed during the review — along with comments from public meetings — to come up with new rules for constructing fiber internet infrastructure, he said.
“We made sure we made the rules the right way,” Mayfield said.
Some of the rules include requiring installers to work during regular working hours, clearly state what companies they work for, provide proof neighbors were notified that work was starting, and set deadlines for dealing with complaints.
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“We are making sure these companies are overall being a better neighbor in our city by being more organized, providing better oversight of their contractors, and addressing all resident complaints more quickly and thoroughly,” city broadband program manager Catherine Nocolaou said in a news release.
