Lakewood Adopts EZ Fiber Franchise to Expand Competitive Internet Service

Lakewood — The Lakewood City Council adopted Ordinance No. 826 on Feb. 3, conditionally granting EZ Fiber a nonexclusive franchise to install and operate telecommunications facilities in city rights-of-way.

The franchise lasts five years with up to three five-year extensions for a possible total of 20 years and includes standard provisions for relocation, pavement repair (a pavement degradation fee), and coordination on undergrounding where feasible. City staff said the agreement follows a standardized template the city has used with other providers.

City senior planner and project lead Michael Vargas reviewed the agreement before the council, calling it a standard telecommunication franchise and noting items such as the term, relocation provisions and the pavement-cutting fee. “This franchise should look very familiar,” Vargas said during the presentation.

Council members framed the ordinance as a step toward increased competition and improved service options for residents. “I’m particularly happy that this is a utility that is, in line with our desires and actually the community’s desires to underground as much as we can,” Council member Branstetter said, adding that competition could improve service in underserved neighborhoods. “I’m certainly in favor of approving” the ordinance, Branstetter said.

Council member Pearson said the company’s service offerings appear promising and urged coordination where new subdivisions or road projects are planned so EZ Fiber can route service efficiently before road construction begins. City staff confirmed coordination with permitting and construction processes will be part of implementation.

By voice vote the council approved Ordinance No. 826. The ordinance authorizes the city manager to execute a nonexclusive franchise agreement with EZ Fiber for telecommunication use of city rights-of-way. The transcript records a voice vote with no roll-call tally provided.

The franchise is designed to allow the company and the city periodic review of the agreement to reflect technology or operational changes. Council and staff said they expect the build-out to occur over multiple years and that coordination with ongoing public-works and private development projects will be important to minimize repeated pavement cuts.

What comes next: staff will proceed with the permitting and coordination steps described during the study-session review and the franchise implementation process.