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Fiber committee: SummitX to resume backbone work in November; staff negotiating piggyback with Samish Nation
Summary
Councilmember Walters reported that SummitX, the contractor on backbone fiber construction, expects to resume work in November with project completion likely in early 2026; invoices are expected in 2026 and staff is negotiating an interlocal to piggyback on an aerial build by the Samish Nation along Fidalgo Bay Road.
Councilmember Walters reported the Fiber Committee met and that SummitX—the city’s backbone-construction contractor—is expected to resume work on the east-designated area in November and likely complete backbone construction in January or the first quarter of 2026. Walters said the contractor has until April to finish the contracted work but staff expect earlier completion and that installation calendars for customer installs are full through mid-January.
Walters also said staff are negotiating an interlocal agreement with the Samish Nation, which has received grant funding to build aerial fiber along Fidalgo Bay Road; the city would be able to "piggyback" and serve customers along that route without paying the full cost of build-out. Walters described a tour of the library network room that showed how the fiber service is delivered into the building and out to customer equipment.
Staff said they expect the fiber division to begin contributing to the general fund in 2027 as the system moves from startup toward revenue generation.
