Mauldin council approves Ripple Fiber ordinance on second reading; Frontier franchise passes first reading

Mauldin’s City Council on Sept. 16 approved multiple franchise and budget items, passing a second‑reading ordinance for Ripple Fiber and advancing a separate franchise for Frontier while also approving a surplus allocation plan and authorizing police participation in a Safe Streets task force.

Noel Delala, a representative of Ripple Fiber, spoke during the public‑comment period and told the council the company is targeting underserved pockets and does not intend to "overbuild" existing providers. Delala said Ripple is seeking a right‑of‑entry agreement in one Carriage Run neighborhood and that the company will notify residents by mail and door hangers and call locates before construction. During council questioning, Delala confirmed a lower‑tier pricing option: "We offer a quarter gig for 55 a month."

Councilmember Reynolds moved to pass ordinance 1044, the franchise agreement with Ripple Fiber, on second reading. Councilmember Steenbach voiced concern that the city's franchise agreements can feel like a "blank check," warning about "installation fatigue" if multiple providers build in small pockets. After discussion, the motion carried by voice vote, 6‑1.

Reynolds also moved to pass a franchise agreement with Frontier on first reading, noting Frontier already has infrastructure in parts of the city but lacked a formal franchise on file. City staff said the city attorney provided a standard franchise template to use when a provider does not supply its own language. The Frontier motion passed on first reading, 7‑0.

On finance, Reynolds moved to approve the city's 2024 surplus projection plan on first reading. The plan, as presented by staff, allocates $500,000 to the general fund balance, $1,000,000 to the capital fund, and $1,500,000 to the transportation capital projects fund. The council approved the plan unanimously.

Late in the meeting, the council returned from an executive session about an economic development matter related to Bridgeway Station and contractual matters with the Mauldin Police Department; Councilmember Matney reported that no decisions were made and no votes were taken in executive session. Councilmember King then moved to authorize the Mauldin Police Department to participate in the Safe Streets task force; Matney seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

What happens next: the Ripple ordinance was adopted on second reading and will be effective according to the ordinance's terms; Frontier must return for a second reading to become final. The city will proceed with the surplus allocations as outlined in the approved projection plan.