Frederick approves master license agreement with Intrepid/Allo to expand fiber; build expected to be phased

The Town of Frederick Board of Trustees voted 6–0 to accept Resolution 24-R-64, granting a master license agreement to Intrepid with Allo as the proposed retail partner to expand fiber-to-the-home across the town. The approval follows an RFI process in which three providers responded and staff conducted interviews and vendor follow-ups.

Representatives from Intrepid — Michael Schroer (development business development coordinator) and Alex Williams (business development manager) — described Intrepid’s open-access fiber approach, which builds a single network that multiple retail Internet service providers can use. Intrepid said the initial design covers a large majority of residential addresses and a few hundred business addresses and anchor institutions; the company said the full build is slated to take about 18 months, with service available to neighborhoods as they are completed. Intrepid emphasized a construction practice of potholing and locates to avoid existing utilities, directional boring where feasible, and a 24–72 hour issue-response and ticketing portal for resident complaints.

Trustees asked how the company will work with the town on road repairs, how the West Side (across I‑25) would be included, and whether residents would be surprised by work in front yards; Intrepid said initial construction will take place in public rights of way and that individual residential service installs are a separate step scheduled by residents. Staff said agreements include a master license (nonexclusive per FCC rules) and a memorandum of agreement to support coordination and cooperative communications.

With the vote, staff will finalize the license agreement and the memorandum of understanding with Intrepid and Allo and proceed to low-level design and permitting.