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Comcast fiber project advancing; town and residents warned of construction impacts
Summary
Interlaken officials said negotiations with Comcast on a franchise agreement and construction access are nearly complete and that Comcast expects to begin fiber work soon; the town stressed Comcast will cover construction costs and residents will pay for subscriptions if they choose to sign up.
Interlaken staff told the council Tuesday they are near agreement with Comcast on a franchise and that Comcast’s contractor plans to begin constructing a fiber-optic network in the town soon.
Town staff said the project is privately funded by Comcast and its contractor, not the town. If residents subscribe to service, they will pay Comcast directly; the town is not paying construction costs. Staff said the company agreed to serve the far end of Luzerne Road after negotiations, though the legal language on that point still needs final agreement.
Councillors discussed potential construction impacts. Staff said Comcast will blue-stake utilities, attempt to bore under sensitive features where possible and follow town specifications for trench repair. Comcast’s contractor provided a 365-day warranty for asphalt repairs, staff said. The franchise agreement includes a modest franchise-fee payment to the town; a resident asked about the fee rate and staff said it would likely generate only a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year depending on subscriptions.
Questions from councilors and residents focused on trenching through rights-of-way, private improvements in public ways (e.g., hardscape or plantings), and how the contractor will handle unexpected obstructions. Staff said they expect the contractor to mark lines, avoid cutting asphalt where feasible and to coordinate repairs per town specs.
Town staff said they expect to provide a further update when final legal language is returned from Comcast and to post the franchise agreement as part of the council minutes.
