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by Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Homeowners in Burque tired of unannounced fiber internet crews tearing up lawns and sidewalks or blocking driveways can look to a new proposal putting neighborhood protections front and center.
Sponsored by Councilor Dan Champine, the ordinance includes several new requirements for internet providers, including notifying residents 30 days before construction and again at least 48 hours before work begins. Companies would also have to clearly identify workers, post multilingual contact information, provide written materials in English and Spanish and respond to complaints within 24 hours. The proposal also encourages companies to coordinate projects to reduce repeat excavations and allows the city to stop work if companies fail to resolve repeated complaints. “This ordinance has several aspects that place residents’ protections front and center,” Champine told The Paper.
Champine said the ordinance largely reflects existing city rules put in place last year after a wave of resident complaints and a stop-work order against Ezee Fiber. The new ordinance updates repair deadlines and allows fiber companies to address complaints before the city orders work to stop. “Fiber installation is important, but it won’t be installed at the total expense of resident peace and safety,” he said.
Track the ordinance: Read O-26-47 before it goes to the Finance and Government Operations Committee Aug. 10.
Check your street: View the city’s fiber installation map to see permitted work and barricades near you.
Have a construction issue? Contact your provider directly using the number on your notification, or call 311 for the city’s Broadband Office.
- Ezee Fiber: 505-539-4848
- Gigapower: 505-420-5195
- T-Fiber (formerly Vexus): 844-512-5022
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