Ritter Communications seeks right-of-way permit; councilors press company on restoration, contractor oversight and local hiring
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Summary
Ritter Communications asked the Public Works Committee for a right-of-way occupancy permit to install and operate fiber facilities in Tulsa; city staff said the application has departmental clearance and Ritter described construction, customer pricing and community-notification practices.
Public Works staff presented a right-of-way occupancy permit request from East Ritter Communication Holdings LLC to place and operate facilities in the city's rights of way, citing the city's rights-of-way management ordinance (Title 11, Chapter 12).
Chris Mashburn, Public Works, summarized the request and said the application "has been reviewed and accepted by all applicable departments." Ritter Communications representatives described the company and its planned build. Victor Esposito said the company has been operating since about 1906 and "launched fiber to the business followed by fiber to the home in around 2021." He told the committee Ritter provides fiber internet, voice and video and is expanding into Oklahoma from Fort Smith to Tulsa.
Katie Hall, Ritter director of communications and audit, outlined the company's community-notification and complaint processes: "We have resident letters that go out... there's a hotline number on there... We give the residents or business owners a call within 24 hours... and then like Victor said, we have day resolution timelines on that." She said there is a construction postcard and door tags for impacted residences and a ticketing system that routes concerns to her team.
Councilors repeatedly asked about restoration, contractor oversight, timing and subcontractors. One councilor asked whether construction would leave holes open or rock on top of sod; Ritter said sites are typically restored within "3 or 4 days" and that replaced sod will match original sod, with a promise to return in spring to replace dormant sod with green sod if requested. Ritter said general contractors typically sub local crews; the company named its main contractor in backup as ADB. Councilors also asked about insurance and local hiring; Ritter said it had submitted an updated insurance certificate and that general contractors commonly sub to local crews, but could not confirm union use.
No formal vote is recorded in the transcript excerpt. The committee's questions focused on operational oversight and repair standards for fiber installs in rights of way and on assurances the company will respond to complaints and coordinate with city staff.