Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Broadband Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears first reading of Light Curve franchise for fiber in Covington
Summary
City staff presented a first reading of a standard 10‑year franchise agreement with Light Curve to use Covington’s public right‑of‑way for fiber infrastructure; staff emphasized permitting and road-restoration requirements and council members pressed for coordination to avoid repeated street cuts.
At the April 28 meeting the Covington City Council heard the first reading of a standard franchise agreement that would authorize Light Curve (the applicant) to use city right-of-way to install fiber infrastructure.
Selena, city staff, explained the franchise is a contractual layer in addition to standard right-of-way permits: it is a 10-year term with a five-year renewal option, does not itself grant land‑use approval or construction permits, and requires that any street work be restored to city standards. For roads repaved within five years, the code requires patching to intersection-to-intersection standards or the applicant must seek a council-proposed alternative. Staff also described a coordinated mailing to neighboring jurisdictions and agencies as part of the franchise process.
An applicant representative (Pal) was present and available to answer questions. Council members raised concerns about neighborhoods that have seen multiple recent cuts and urged stronger coordination so the same streets are not repeatedly excavated. Selena and staff said coordination is part of the permitting and franchise review, that inspectors are walking planned routes with utilities, and that franchises provide a contractual mechanism to enforce restoration commitments and, in extreme cases, withdraw franchise privileges if obligations are not met.
No action was taken tonight; the item will return for a required second reading before the council may approve or deny the franchise. Staff noted that if the applicant proceeds it must still obtain right-of-way permits and other construction approvals before work begins.
