Lumen/Quantum Fiber asks Roy council to allow above‑ground pedestals for planned build

Sean Goff, director of engineering construction for the Northwest for Lumen (Quantum Fiber), told the Roy City Council on Feb. 18 that the company needs permission for a hybrid deployment that includes some above‑ground pedestals to complete a planned fiber build to about 2,200 living units in Roy.

Goff said the company originally designed the project using pedestals as its underground method and later learned the city's expectation was that all facilities be fully below grade. "If I'm not able to do some kind of a hybrid modification, I may not be able to build out to these 2,200 residents in Roy," he said. He described the company's ask as "to utilize a hybrid model of both above ground pedestals and as many below grade, hand holes as we can to still be economically viable to build out to the city."

Why it matters: Council members and staff said allowing the hybrid approach would likely require a formal amendment to the franchise agreement so the city treats providers consistently. City Manager Matt (name not specified in the record) told the council, "it would need to have an amendment to the agreement just to clarify as there is that difference of opinion as to what that means in the agreement." The mayor and council directed staff to review Goff's request, compare it with existing commitments (including work already underway by another provider) and return to the council with options.

Details from the presentation: Goff said Lumen had planned five to six projects serving roughly 2,200 units. He described two deployment methods: hand holes placed below grade and small above‑ground fiber pedestals (he described example boxes as roughly 12 inches in diameter and 2—d to 3 feet tall). He said Lumen has reduced the expected number of yards that would need pedestals to an "average of 19% of the households," and gave a total figure of about 421 pedestals in the current mapping; in one project area he said up to 41% of properties (about 290 residents) would require pedestals due to site constraints.

Goff explained the tradeoffs as largely financial and logistical: installing hand holes and fully burying facilities requires more excavation, materials and higher capital cost. "I would have to replace a pedestal 3 times to equal the cost of 1 underground facility," he said, arguing the hybrid approach makes the build economically viable. He said Lumen would notify residents in advance, door‑hang and provide contact information for customer service and the contractor (Fugal).

Council discussion and next steps: Residents and council members raised concerns about pedestals in yards, vandalism and fairness to the other provider already building in some areas (referred to in the meeting as Connex). The mayor noted that easements on properties permit such work if the council approves it and said the city must ensure equitable treatment for any provider. The council did not vote on an amendment; instead staff were asked to evaluate the proposal and return with a recommended amendment to the franchise agreement.

Ending: The council scheduled no immediate change; staff were directed to take Goff's information back to city administration and public works, compare the request to existing agreements and report back to the council for further action.