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Bowling Green authorizes make‑ready agreement with Buckeye Broadband for city internet service
Summary
Council approved Resolution07‑2025‑02 allowing a make‑ready cost concurrence agreement with Buckeye Broadband: the company will provide up to 10 gigabits of internet service to the city while retaining a reduced make‑ready fee for certain pole work under a multi‑year arrangement.
Bowling Green — The council approved Resolution07‑2025‑02 to authorize the utilities director to execute a make‑ready cost concurrence agreement with Buckeye Broadband, allowing the company to continue providing the city’s internet service and to receive a reduced make‑ready charge for pole replacement work.
Assistant utilities staff explained the arrangement grew out of earlier in‑kind exchanges in which Buckeye used city fiber and pole space. Under the agreement, the city will receive up to 10 gigabits of internet service; Buckeye will keep a reduced make‑ready share ($300) for certain pole replacements tied to the company’s build‑out, and a continuing $200 per‑job discount was discussed for future make‑ready work. City staff described the arrangement as similar in approach to a prior conduit agreement with Amplex, which provides backup internet service for the city.
Jim (assistant utilities director) presented details and said the original pole replacement estimate was about $600 per pole with Buckeye responsible for half. When the cost estimate rose to $800, staff negotiated to keep Buckeye’s share at the lower $300 for previously agreed work and to provide an ongoing $200 discount on make‑ready shares going forward. He said the agreement is written to renew annually until either party requests termination and that either party may terminate with 180 days’ written notice.
Council members asked whether 10 gigabits would be sufficient long term and whether service quality has been reliable. A council member said they had heard complaints about Buckeye service in the community; city IT and utilities staff responded that in their experience the city’s internet has not gone down in recent years and that IT had not reported poor service. No formal service‑level figures were presented at the meeting.
Formal action: a motion to approve Resolution07‑2025‑02 authorizing the utilities director to execute the make‑ready cost concurrence agreement with Buckeye Broadband was made and seconded. Michelle (clerk) called the roll; members Susiek, Hogan, Wagner, Jesse and Newlove all voted yes. The motion carried.
Next steps include finalizing and executing the agreement and maintaining Amplex as the city’s backup internet provider per the previously signed conduit arrangement.
