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Committee recommends nonexclusive EZ Fiber right‑of‑way license, firm says it will build citywide
Summary
Warrenville’s committee recommended council approval of a nonexclusive license with EZ Fiber to install fiber-optic lines citywide; company representatives described construction practices, a phased rollout, and service pricing examples; the committee voted to forward the agreement to council.
The Warrenville Public Works & Infrastructure Committee voted to recommend that City Council approve a nonexclusive public right‑of‑way license agreement with EZ Fiber Texas LLC to install fiber‑optic communications facilities in city rights of way.
Public Works Director Phil Kugler told the committee that the city shared a standard license template with four companies and that EZ Fiber was first to agree to terms. Jonathan Carroll, EZ Fiber’s director of government affairs, said the company intends to build citywide and that it has engaged an engineering firm and construction leadership ready to begin. Carroll said on the record: "We're very excited to come to the Chicagoland area ... we hope that we can have a great partnership with Warrenville." (Jonathan Carroll, director of government affairs, EZ Fiber.)
Construction questions were answered by Steven Schafer, identified as the company’s senior vice president of construction, who described a standard minimum cover depth of 24 inches, use of 811 utility locates and coordination with homeowners associations and existing providers to avoid overbuilding. Schafer stated the company typically avoids areas already being built to reduce duplication.
During Q&A, company representatives described an example retail price they advertised for a 2 Gbps package of about $90 per month and said the company offers higher speeds without throttling; they said build timing would be driven by permitting, with a target to start as early as first quarter of the following year and a potential construction completion window measured in months once permits are in hand. Director Kugler clarified the license is nonexclusive and other providers could also execute similar agreements.
Alderman Weidner moved and Alderman Davalos seconded a recommendation to approve the license agreement; the committee voted to forward the item to council with no recorded opposition.
The license presented defines permit and construction requirements and limits to help manage installations through the city’s right‑of‑way permit process. The agenda materials said EZ Fiber stated an intent to install fiber citywide; the agreement does not obligate the city to expand municipal funding or utilities.
