[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6212681,"mediaKeyId","3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b","parentId",3683584,"title","Lumen details Quantum Fiber deployment, pricing and storm‑resiliency work to Fort Myers Beach council","audioSeconds",265,"startMs",63000,"endMs",328000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b&start=63&end=328","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b/thumbnail_63000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212681/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Lumen-details-Quantum-Fiber-deployment-pricing-and-stormresiliency-work-to-Fort-Myers-Beach-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212681-08373d8faa82e6038beb405f25434a9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156533&Signature=Jv~KLv9Vf2OvAdEh1OfdcKYC4iIvzyWY8Ug1tVlhL8-SuVJVTpzUNZ5sd8r7IMAt~VKyuc~bckba2Yce09dzDs9XF1ltF~X3USvxjFI~EZOTAQ8w8kyTPJ0Of-Hcqne1a3Fe3QUIVHF4bBZqCbr-7kqg2OXEZSaTwxI9PqZmqgCc132lrvvo3bao~lVyvjhj12VQO-JdYTSOjCG7GPdOkSvCqXI3up7OsTG16OfttVXkqYk6wcrRDjYbDv~ypigL59wtmf51gpHJ8rDJB5bRU20xBE19rypnlA7pSQk2Eu5TSJvuqW2kVZbC2D4D7L4YYZF-7-28o7szG-Pi-qA7lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of For Myers Beach, FL","date","2025-06-05T12:27:38Z","article","Lumen Technologies representatives briefed the Fort Myers Beach Town Council on Thursday, June 5, about the company’s quantum fiber service and local rollout.

The presentation matters because the town’s broadband infrastructure affects household connectivity, business service options and storm resilience for critical communications during hurricanes and other emergencies.

David Zechman, director of government affairs for Florida at Lumen Technologies, told the council that Lumen finished burying fiber on Fort Myers Beach in May 2024 and now “provide[s] fiber to just under 3,000 homes in the community.” He said Lumen invested “approximately $330,000,000 in the state of Florida” in calendar year 2024 and described the product as an ultra‑fast fiber offering with symmetrical speeds and “an all digital customer experience.”

Zeichman said Quantum Fiber plans start at $50 per month with speeds beginning at 500 megabits per second and reaching as high as 8 gigabits per second, and that the company advertises “unlimited data” and no annual contract. Jason, the area manager on the presentation team, told the council the company “carry[ies] that cost” for the typical home drop and said “the $1,500 is allotted to our customers home. That includes boring, trenching to get the drop to what we refer to as a slack box on the side of the house. The home installation is included.”

Lumen staff described the customer equipment chain: fiber to an optical network terminal (ONT) inside the home, then a Wi‑Fi router (the company said it is shipping Wi‑Fi 7 routers). The company also explained that some in‑home wiring (Cat 5/Cat 6) can limit top advertised speeds and that the 8‑gigabit plans require a full fiber path into the dwelling.

On storm resilience, Zechman said Lumen has moved much of its beach‑area infrastructure underground and deploys pre‑positioned restoration crews and generators during hurricane season. He told the council Lumen worked with FEMA and Florida’s Department of Emergency Management after recent storms and, for Fort Myers Beach specifically, has been operating from an emergency trailer that houses core equipment while the company evaluates the fate of a damaged central office building.

Council members asked about business services and static IPs. Zechman said static IPs for businesses are “being worked on with Quantum Fiber right now” and that the company can provision static addresses for business customers though the offering is not yet widely published. Jason said he had supplied services to businesses with static IPs in other communities and that pricing for business circuits would require follow‑up from Lumen’s sales team.

No council action or vote followed the presentation; the item was a staff/partner briefing and a question‑and‑answer period. Council members asked Lumen to leave contact information for follow‑up and to provide staff with any materials the company wished to have posted or shared with residents.

Methodology and sourcing: article is based on direct statements in the June 5 Fort Myers Beach Town Council meeting transcript and on company figures presented there.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Management & Planning, June 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lumen Technologies representatives briefed the Fort Myers Beach Town Council on Thursday, June 5, about the company’s quantum fiber service and local rollout.","taxTitle","Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, Florida","taxId",66110,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212666,"Council directs quick‑claim deed for homeowner, orders inventory of canal/seawall discrepancies after survey reveals town ownership pocket",1267,3196000,4463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b&start=3196&end=4463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b/thumbnail_3196000.jpg","/articles/6212666/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Council-directs-quickclaim-deed-for-homeowner-orders-inventory-of-canalseawall-discrepancies-after-survey-reveals-town-ownership-pocket","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212666-bfd7a866067d1f430f3a158d84d8cf88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156533&Signature=aCjAPLcWfvOGrbGazxbt6R8n274EA3I~aqrrgNvHWJwet7HT~ysBhPAPobowSLSX52eUKfcubiQkva0WWu6mgzRTnSEeMyjXMC87Gle-qjBqf2UXVVYcA8nXA26LXjixBPMuk49NoTn2-NkUzr4NZgn-LgHicIPak24nPoiqr-cKWWjyDvQySQdfR5N6belgwWlr9I7UtosPMiDe~koa~gvls502UWtN2es9b7-CNKKRVzp92OZNxVnu-VYX45NTkQfNpkATPUBweXSwrVWas3cEyPE6WIvib~G3uTeUEEkmskpS1Efo5Be86oggnKqKM38yADKzxcsNXyC~paEgAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Myers Beach Town Council on June 5 directed staff to prepare a quick‑claim deed for a homeowner’s parcel and to inventory other properties after survey work showed that a strip of land between several yards and the seawall is town property in some places.

The item matters because the town‑owned “no‑man’s‑land” between some property lines and seawalls affects who is responsible for seawall repair, creates delays for homeowners seeking to make repairs, and presents potential town liability if seawalls fail near private pools or homes.

Homeowner Kathy Turner told the council her seawall was damaged by recent storms and that survey work showed “almost 11 feet in some spots” of the ground behind her yard belonged to the town. Turner said she received contractor estimates that ranged from about $80,000 to $120,000 to repair the seawall and that she was concerned about spending “a hundred thousand dollars on something that doesn't belong to me.”

Town staff and the town attorney explained the legal options. The town attorney said a quiet‑claim deed would convey “anything that we own regarding the seawall or that no man's land area” to the property owner but cautioned that deeding individual pockets could leave the town owning adjacent segments. She also described the alternative paths of a license or an easement to allow immediate repairs while the town considers a broader policy or vacation of the right‑of‑way.

Councilors and staff agreed on a near‑term path: staff will place a quick‑claim deed for Turner’s parcel on the June 16 council agenda so she can proceed with repairs, and the town will conduct an expedited inventory of adjacent parcels that may have the same discrepancy. Staff proposed using town boats and contractors to photograph canals and identify other affected properties; councilors asked the town to prioritize any other sites that present imminent risk to structures or public safety.

Council direction also included preparing options for a broader policy that could result in vacating or conveying contiguous segments of the seawall/right‑of‑way to adjacent property owners where appropriate, while excluding parcels that contain outfalls or recorded utility easements. The town noted that sovereign submerged‑lands interests (state) could exist and that any conveyance would be limited to the town’s own interest in the property.

The council did not adopt a town‑wide conveyance policy on June 5; instead the body set the Turner quick‑claim deed for the June 16 agenda, asked staff to prepare surveys and an inventory of similarly situated properties (staff estimated roughly 10–12 parcels along the referenced canal), and directed staff to explore interim administrative steps — such as license agreements or easements — to allow urgent repairs while the larger policy is developed.

Methodology and sourcing: article is based on the June 5 Fort Myers Beach Town Council meeting transcript, including direct homeowner remarks and counsel advice recorded at the meeting.","After a homeowner reported an 11‑foot discrepancy between her property and the seawall, councilors directed staff to bring a quick‑claim deed for that property to the June 16 agenda, to inventory similarly affected properties, and to enable immediate repairs via license or easement to avoid worsening structural damage and liability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212671,"Fort Myers Beach council weighs year‑round resident passes, app options and county partnerships for parking",1159,1975000,3134000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b&start=1975&end=3134","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b/thumbnail_1975000.jpg","/articles/6212671/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Fort-Myers-Beach-council-weighs-yearround-resident-passes-app-options-and-county-partnerships-for-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212671-e1131ce69e78374f6d1afab333568e1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156533&Signature=QLfKEh4wEg7mg7WUota~p4cwHHQjLSEwyGz9Mh6L-WY0z4u3V0iJl1V~7L0jfz1TyLK0FtPr0~1-R9pMvSJnvi4Y8304ECNOwiRrzrEJ853y~OANA8ms-aos5s~84PGTlELEmKvGxIDusAvxruebbTEgCIKt2fApjoK~3zUtxDR8s0gURz6UROmDQoSALvMBs4t7y-SIj2UWLIpOaFuWA4f8uMX6pWXQZ1iWc6bAV4YBLRlZrrgAsrfmzoXGu3~TbtcJ78yzeAYzd0Va1HouCCXwSnSrfu~Vx~sP2x4lTphu5HuzwSm6PUU3grkkZaCXlefP2P0zbHLXkFjjEJ01tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors and staff discussed parking policy, enforcement and technology at the June 5 Fort Myers Beach meeting, focusing on whether to offer expanded year‑round passes for residents and potential partnerships with Lee County.

The issue matters because parking is a significant source of municipal revenue and a daily quality‑of‑life concern for residents, businesses and visitors; changes could affect town operating income and access to downtown and beach areas.

Councilor Stafford opened the discussion by proposing an expanded or year‑round pass that would allow residents to park at beach accesses and other town spots outside the current seasonal structure. Staff said an average parking space on the island generates about $4,000 of annual revenue, a figure the town uses when weighing whether to extend privileges beyond current limits. The town’s parking coordinator, Frankie, explained enforcement practices and customer service: “we void somewhere between 40‑45% of our tickets at this point,” and said the department balances revenue goals with an educational enforcement approach.

Councilors and staff discussed options that included a resident year‑round pass, limited off‑island purchases in the off season, recognition of Lee County park passes in certain town lots, camera‑based enforcement pilots, and a unified app that could show private and public availability. Staff noted hurdles: many parking spaces are privately owned, signage and jurisdictional differences create confusion for motorists, and some third‑party parking vendors take a revenue share that reduces town receipts.

Council members asked staff to research the feasibility and revenue implications of a year‑round resident pass or limited off‑island sticker program; to inventory how many town spaces would be affected; to re‑engage vendors who have proposed camera or app solutions; and to seek available funding or grant opportunities (the mayor suggested asking the Metropolitan Planning Organization and FDOT for traffic/count data that could support planning). The town will also look for existing traffic‑count datasets before commissioning new counts.

No ordinance or fee change was proposed on June 5. Council directed staff to return with cost estimates, revenue modeling, any vendor proposals and information on grants or MPO/FDOT traffic counts that would help quantify demand and fiscal impact.

Methodology and sourcing: article is based on the June 5 council meeting transcript and direct statements by councilors and parking staff recorded there.","Councilors discussed whether to offer year‑round parking passes, expand off‑island stickers, pursue technology (apps/camera enforcement) and partner with Lee County; staff was asked to compile feasibility data including revenue implications, traffic counts and grant opportunities.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212676,"Fort Myers Beach council opens discussion on annexation of San Carlos Island, directs staff to coordinate with county and FEMA",682,1284000,1966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b&start=1284&end=1966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683584-5f1cbcc97cbb54140afeb55bbc546e1b/thumbnail_1284000.jpg","/articles/6212676/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Fort-Myers-Beach-council-opens-discussion-on-annexation-of-San-Carlos-Island-directs-staff-to-coordinate-with-county-and-FEMA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212676-c8943ba0f3d3ada6cefd85a78ef4a2bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156533&Signature=LnNowD155XOyAn5DVGQPl3pmMZKQxqhfIoX0lJXOvbUphL6snWDLMGgJyT9Qd6KIChHgRhIyI9NbJ9lNI1wjL4Xjqo6RKMZ9F8B3qkGy3XCvjt-UDCwKDg5rboollVbOUmWAT1mCxRakXG-FnPFMhmaZvvs8UsPuhA22h~GV1Wbu1S~uvZuNOQ3SM3ryNURJ35Uc8uxzSI71yeHJrcsdMRu7mIZRPYkZLqel1SfdkCJ1XmzMbxIARWJv9~n-lSuTNc73UWk7p-Z6oyp8TcvsahGQ9trVso6txvqNA3Me0ibty4O5osoNS26TQ07ZscXb9d64GZSXXxi~LEZiyX6mFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilor John King raised an exploratory discussion on Thursday, June 5 about the possibility of annexing San Carlos Island into the Town of Fort Myers Beach.

The matter matters because annexation would change who provides local services and how residents are represented; councilors framed the June 5 discussion as preliminary and emphasized coordination with Lee County rather than immediate action.

Councilor King said he raised the issue because some San Carlos Island residents “have felt they're not getting what they need from being unincorporated from Lee County” and he thought annexation “would give those residents local representation.” He told colleagues he was not asking the town to spend money on a feasibility study at this time and said he was “very happy with having brought this up” so the town could explore options.

Council members asked about possible boundaries, whether an annexation would mirror ZIP code 33931 or the fire district, and whether the town should pursue a small, targeted corridor annexation (for example the boulevard at the island entrance) versus a larger move. Councilor Woodson suggested drawing clear criteria and boundaries before pursuing any steps. Several members said annexation should be initiated by residents who want to join the town rather than by the council.

Mayor Allers and others flagged recurring problems with outside agencies and disaster responders misidentifying town boundaries after Hurricane Ian. The mayor said he would discuss boundary‑clarification with the county manager and mentioned plans to raise the matter with FEMA administrators so emergency responders “understand when they're doing their analysis that it's they're analyzing the right area.”

The discussion produced no motion or vote. The consensus direction to staff was to open lines of communication with Lee County and FEMA to improve clarity about jurisdictional boundaries and to report back; Mayor Allers said he would raise the topic with the county manager at an upcoming meeting. Councilors agreed to receive more information if residents or property owners brought a formal annexation petition to the town.

Methodology and sourcing: article summarizes councilor remarks and the council’s directions recorded in the June 5 Fort Myers Beach Town Council transcript.","Councilors discussed possible annexation or focused corridor annexation of San Carlos Island on June 5; the item was framed as exploratory, not action, and council directed staff to work with Lee County and FEMA to clarify boundaries and response roles.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lumen details Quantum Fiber deployment, pricing and storm‑resiliency work to Fort Myers Beach council

Council directs quick‑claim deed for homeowner, orders inventory of canal/seawall discrepancies after survey reveals town ownership pocket

Fort Myers Beach council weighs year‑round resident passes, app options and county partnerships for parking

Fort Myers Beach council opens discussion on annexation of San Carlos Island, directs staff to coordinate with county and FEMA