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Prospect takes first reading of Lumos Fiber franchise agreement; council hears deployment, construction, and community concerns
Summary
The council held a first reading of an ordinance authorizing a franchise agreement with Lumos Fiber and heard questions about construction methods, park-strip boxes and revenue share; council moved the ordinance to first reading unanimously.
The Prospect City Council on April 21 took a first reading of an ordinance (6-52) that would authorize the mayor to enter into a uniform franchise agreement with Lumos Fiber for a fiber-to-the-home network in the city.
Bryce Simmel, director of market development for Lumos Fiber, described the company’s multi-state expansion and said Lumos aims to build a new fiber-optic network in Jefferson County, including Prospect. Simmel said the company has existing franchise agreements or approvals in a number of small cities in the area and that Lumos recently entered a joint-venture arrangement with T-Mobile.
Council members asked detailed questions about construction practice, appearance and maintenance of hand-hole and pedestal boxes, trenching depth, right-of-way restoration, how the company would amend mapped service areas (Exhibit A), and the proposed revenue share. Lumos representatives said most fiber construction is underground, that the company uses small-diameter ducts and flush-to-grade hand holes (11-by-11 or 11-by-17 inches in typical locations), and that typical burial depth is 24–36 inches. Company representatives also confirmed a maximum municipal franchise fee of 5 percent stated in the draft agreement and said most partner cities have adopted similar terms.
Council members asked Lumos for photos or flushed-in examples that the company can show residents before the second reading. The council unanimously approved taking the ordinance for first reading and instructed staff to publish notice and arrange outreach to residents; a second reading was anticipated at a later meeting.
The council’s first reading allows the mayor to sign a uniform franchise agreement if the ordinance is adopted at second reading; it does not itself authorize construction. Council members said they wanted public outreach and examples of the “flowerpot” flush hand holes Lumos proposes to use, and asked staff to coordinate a public information process ahead of a second reading vote.
