AT&T says fiber will reach roughly 90–95% of Bossier City by end of 2026; residents raise maintenance, backyard-access complaints

AT&T representatives told the Bossier City Council on Aug. 26 that the company has already built fiber to roughly half of Bossier City and expects to reach roughly 90–95% of residents by the end of 2026.

Wayne Stein, associate director of engineering for AT&T, told the council, “By the 2026, our plan covers probably over 95 of the residents. Okay. Yeah. So it'd be real close by the end of the year by 2026.” He said AT&T has invested in fiber in the community and offered to provide maps and plans showing completed work and projects planned for late 2025 and 2026.

The company’s local construction representative identified several neighborhoods targeted for 2025 construction, including Green Acres Place, areas off Shed Road east of Benton Road, portions of East Texas between Swan Lake and Old Shed Road and parts of Panther Drive, Riverbend Drive and Sligo near the new Parkway High School.

Residents who addressed the council said some installation work and contractor conduct have caused problems. One resident reported seeing technicians cut his backyard gate lock, release a dog and leave debris; he said the video of the event showed people “walking up with bolt cutters and cut the lock off and going in, let their dog out and going back there and digging in the backyard.” The resident requested better notice and accountability from contractors.

Ralph, an AT&T field engineer who spoke at the meeting, said crews leave door hangers that list contact numbers for local contractors and that the company has a local maintenance and installation team that handles complaints. He said, “Our crews stick door hangers out to let everybody know we're coming ahead of time,” and encouraged residents to retain hangers and call the local number if problems occur.

Council members pressed AT&T about specific neighborhoods and about whether crews and subcontractors display company identification. Council member Chris Smith asked whether contractor trucks and workers are marked; the AT&T representative said vehicles should be labeled and that the main contractor on the project is Divining Construction (as stated at the meeting). AT&T said it would work to ensure subcontractors display contractor information on-site and would follow up on specific reports.

A council member asked about areas where recently installed pedestals were damaged or missing covers in Shady Grove. An AT&T representative asked for specific locations and said maintenance crews would investigate and follow up.

The council discussion also included a technical question about copper vs. fiber. Stein described the company’s program as an “overbuilding” effort to replace copper with fiber, and said the company expects to be “in the 90% range complete by the '26.”

The company offered business cards and a local contact for follow-up; the council and AT&T agreed the company would investigate specific resident complaints and return information to the council office.

Why it matters: A near-complete fiber buildout affects internet access, local competition among providers and right‑of‑way maintenance. Residents’ complaints at the Aug. 26 meeting highlight practical issues that can follow large utility construction projects — notification, contractor conduct and post-installation cleanup — matters the city government can track and require contractors to remedy.

The council did not take any formal action on AT&T’s presentation during the meeting; AT&T representatives provided contact information for follow-up and committed to responding to the specific complaints raised at the meeting.

Ending: Council members and AT&T representatives agreed to follow up after the meeting on identified service and maintenance issues. The company said it will provide maps of current and planned fiber coverage and will investigate reported incidents where contractors entered private property without permission.