Broadband provider outlines multi‑million‑dollar build in Newton County; commissioners press for coordination after reported damage to rural water lines

A broadband contractor introduced a multi‑phase build to Newton County commissioners and county officials at a meeting, and county leaders pressed the company to coordinate with local water districts after residents reported that prior construction by Spectrum damaged rural water lines.

The presentation was given by Robert Parker and Scott Matthews, who said the combined broadband efforts in Newton County — described as "about close to $50,000,000 in broadband going through Newton County" — include roughly 552 miles of construction and "about 5,424 passing" premises to be served as the companies build out aerial and underground infrastructure. "We're here is to introduce ourselves and start those conversations," Parker said, urging early coordination with local governments and utilities.

Why it matters: Commissioners and rural residents said previous construction activity in the county disrupted buried plastic water lines that lack tracer wire and are hard to locate, creating a safety and service risk during new construction. County leaders asked the presenter to hold a stakeholders meeting and to start construction at the north end of the county, if possible, to avoid overlapping crews in the south where complaints have been concentrated.

County concerns and company response County officials and residents recounted incidents in which crews working for another provider dug into areas with rural water mains and left damage they said was significant. One county speaker described the absence of preplanning and public notice before earlier work and asked that the broadband contractor coordinate closely with every affected water supplier.

Parker and Matthew…