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City staff previews proposed fiber ductwork leg; partner offer could cut city cost in half
Summary
City staff presented an early-stage fiber strategy and a private‑provider offer to install a segment of conduit for about $47,000; staff said the city will need a duct‑use policy and maintenance plan before broader buildout and plans to bring a proposal to council.
A city staff member briefed the Services Committee on a proposed fiber backbone strategy and an offer from a private provider to install a segment of multi‑duct conduit through a key corridor for roughly $47,000.
The staff presentation reviewed a consultant’s earlier recommendation to build a looped backbone around town to support future internet providers and economic development. The consultant mapped an outer loop and recommended ductwork and conduits on major corridors; staff noted recent annexations have changed the city footprint and an updated map has not yet been adopted.
The staff member said one provider, AltaFiber, has offered to install a single leg of multi‑duct conduit — a portion of the recommended backbone — for about $47,000, which the presenter said is roughly half what the consultant estimated it would cost the city to install the same segment. “They have indicated that they would be willing to put in for us, at a cost, a multi duct conduit in this segment of the backbone, for the cost of about $47,000,” the staff member said.
Staff cautioned that the single leg does not create a full loop and that the city will need a policy or ordinance requiring future providers to use city ductwork and to set compensation and maintenance responsibilities. The presentation also noted potential provider coordination, with multiple companies expressing interest in bringing fiber to Sunbury, and potential uses of the ductwork for city applications such as smart‑traffic signals.
No committee action was requested; staff said it will return to council with a proposal for the conduit installation and with draft policy language for duct usage and maintenance.
