Committee forwards EZ Fiber franchise ordinance to council for first reading

The Land Use/Transportation Committee voted to forward an ordinance that would grant EZ Fiber Texas LLC a 10-year franchise to install fiber telecommunications throughout Federal Way to the City Council for first reading on Feb. 18.

The proposed ordinance would give EZ Fiber the right to install fiber across city rights-of-way and city-owned conduit under a 10-year term, staff said. “They've paid the $5,000 deposit for administrative time and staff time,” a staff presenter said. The mayor recommended forwarding the ordinance to the council’s Feb. 18 meeting.

The committee discussion focused on who EZ Fiber is, how the company installs fiber and how the city limits construction impacts. Councilman Jack Walsh said he supports any company that installs fiber, but asked, “Who is EZ Fiber?” Staff answered that EZ Fiber is a Texas-based company expanding into municipalities in the region and described it as a “fiber to the house” provider that installs and then typically sells the network to larger providers. The presenter said City standards do not allow microtrenching — a construction method used elsewhere that Federal Way has chosen not to permit — and that franchises and right-of-way permits require restoration when work is complete.

Staff told the committee the city limits trench lengths by permit (typically 2,500 lineal feet per permit and about 3,500 feet for what staff called “veil lash”), and that permit closeout and restoration are required before additional permits are issued. Staff also said the city has been using spare conduit where available to minimize new excavation.

A committee member moved to forward the ordinance for first reading on Feb. 18, 2025; the motion carried on a voice vote.

If the council adopts the ordinance at first reading, subsequent council action or additional administrative approvals would still be required before EZ Fiber could begin construction.