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Auburn schedules Sept. 15 hearing on 50‑year EZ Fiber franchise for citywide buildout
Summary
City staff said a draft ordinance would grant EZ Fiber Texas LLC a 50‑year citywide franchise to install fiber in public rights of way east of the BNSF Railroad as an initial build and that federal and state law prevent adding digital equity requirements to the franchise.
Amber Olds, right‑of‑way specialist in the public works department, briefed the Council on draft Ordinance No. 6994 and franchise agreement 25‑0002 from EZ Fiber Texas LLC to install fiber optic cable and related telecommunications infrastructure in Auburn’s public ways. Olds said the company requested a citywide franchise covering public ways generally east of the BNSF Railroad as its initial build area, with potential future expansion to West Hill and other areas. The proposed agreement term is 50 years.
Olds explained that final engineering, construction schedules and right‑of‑way restoration will be managed through the city’s construction committee as required by the franchise. She said the city reviewed EZ Fiber’s franchise application and found it complete for code requirements and that a public hearing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. "They’re proposing to install fiber optic cable and electronic infrastructure in the public ways of the city to provide business and residential data and telecommunication services to customers located inside the city limits," Olds said.
Council member Lisa Sturgis asked whether the new franchise would affect competition or affordability. Olds replied that a new provider "does provide competition," and that multiple providers can improve affordability. Sturgis also asked whether franchise agreements include digital equity requirements; Olds said federal rules governing broadband communications and the city’s past practice prevent the city from imposing digital equity obligations on a single franchisee because that would create competitive imbalance among providers.
No franchise ordinance vote was taken at the study session; the item was set for a public hearing. Next steps identified by staff include the Sept. 15 hearing, engineering and construction review through the city’s established committee process, and any required permit and restoration work under the franchise terms.
