Prescott Valley council approves five-year license for MetroNet fiber build, 5-1 vote

The Prescott Valley Town Council on April 10 approved a five-year license letting VEXUS Fiber LLC, doing business as MetroNet, construct, operate and maintain a fiber-optic network in the town’s public rights-of-way.

Councilmembers voted 5-1 to approve the license; one councilmember announced an abstention because of employment with another communications company. The license text cited state statutory authority in the motion as “under ARS. 9Dash58129583” as the basis for the agreement.

The item drew a presentation from MetroNet and questions from council about service area, permitting and local presence. Ms. Schroeder, a Town staff member who introduced the item, told council a staff report summarized MetroNet’s request and that company representatives were present to answer questions.

Jill, a MetroNet representative, said the company plans “to build approximately 15,500 passes in the town of Prescott Valley” and described service tiers ranging from roughly $50 to $120 per month for residential plans and enterprise offerings up to 100 gig for large customers. Jeff, MetroNet’s field representative, described the company’s construction and ticketing process: customers who report damage during construction will have a ticket logged, contractors must respond and make repairs, and the company follows local permitting, “locates” and ROC licensing for contractors.

Joan Burke, an attorney representing MetroNet, told council that VEXUS’s subsidiary holds a certificate and that MetroNet has applied for its own Arizona Corporation Commission certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN). Burke said, “They also have an application pending for their own CCN, but they have a CCN,” and explained that the state commission issues certificates that authorize public-utility service in telecom and other utilities.

Council members asked whether the build would cover private neighborhoods and HOAs, whether MetroNet would bore under roads, how long the first neighborhood build would take and whether MetroNet would maintain a local retail office. MetroNet said crews would be hired locally for construction and ongoing service, that the work will include boring under roads where necessary, and that the first neighborhood release to customers is projected roughly 30 to 60 days after construction begins in a given area, with an initial kickoff targeted for July or August of the year of presentation.

Councilmember Frey announced an abstention before the vote, citing employment with another communications company. The clerk reported the motion passed 5 to 1.

The license approved authorizes MetroNet (through VEXUS Fiber) to use public roadways to “construct, install, operate, maintain, and use a network of fiber cable to provide telecommunications services” for five years, per the motion presented to council. The license and MetroNet’s CCN application were discussed but council action tonight granted only the local license; MetroNet officials said they are privately funding the build and estimated an investment of about $18.5 million for the initial network design provided to council.

MetroNet representatives said their construction outreach will include mailed notices, postcards, on-site signage and a construction website; the company described a ticket system with a 24-hour response expectation and an aim to resolve most repair requests within 48 hours. MetroNet also said its ground-mounted handholes and cabinets will be flush to minimize visual impact.

The council’s approval allows MetroNet to begin permitting and construction coordination in Prescott Valley; the company said it will open neighborhood-by-neighborhood service once each area is ready and said it plans to employ local technicians and sales staff after the build.