Three fiber companies — Forged Fiber (an AT&T entity), EZ Fiber and MetroNet — presented franchise-agreement requests to use city right-of-way for fiber-optic infrastructure during the Oct. 6 meeting; council will consider ordinances to grant franchises at a later hearing.

Meredith Pabst, representing Forged Fiber 37 LLC, said Forged is preparing permissions so that, if AT&T completes acquisition of certain assets, the company will hold legal rights to operate in local right-of-way. "Forged Fiber doesn't have any specific plans for Bow Ground, right now, but it may in the future, be extending the services to other customers in the city," Pabst said. She thanked city staff for their responsiveness in processing the request.

EZ Fiber representatives were not present; city staff summarized the company as a Texas-based fiber provider that typically places most infrastructure underground, provides pre-construction communications and aims to limit above-ground disruption.

Jill Cortes, vice president of new market development for Metronet, described Metronet as a large national fiber provider and summarized the company's community-build practices. "We are the nation's fastest, largest, or fastest growing fiber optic company across the nation," Cortes said, and said Metronet plans a full fiber-to-the-premises build in this market. She told council the MetroNet build estimate specific to Battle Ground would involve roughly 7,000 passes (the company noted the larger Clark County footprint figure includes other jurisdictions) with a typical construction window of 18 to 24 months. MetroNet outlined a multi-step outreach approach: mailed letters 30–15 days before construction, a follow-up postcard 7–10 days prior, yard signs in the right-of-way during active construction, a project website, a staffed toll-free number for residents, and a ticketing process with a 24-hour response target.

City staff said companies must obtain business licenses, the city's franchise agreement, and required permits; contractors must carry bonding and insurance and comply with locates and inspection requirements. Staff also noted that the franchise template used by Forged Fiber required only immaterial modifications and that MetroNet accepted the city's standard template with typical operational commitments.

No franchise ordinances were adopted at the meeting. Staff said the agreements would be returned to council for formal action at a later meeting (staff referenced bringing the ordinance back on Nov. 3 for approval). The discussion emphasized permitting, restoration standards (flush-grade vaults and restored surfaces), notice procedures and the role of locates and field inspections in protecting other utilities.

Council members asked staff about city notice and suggested the city publish its own informational posts about upcoming construction so residents have a centralized source of verified information in addition to company outreach.

This discussion does not grant construction rights; companies may not proceed until a franchise and required permits are adopted and issued.