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Parish approves Bright Speed right‑of‑way agreement; juror urges notification when utilities are struck
Summary
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury approved a right‑of‑way use agreement with Bright Speed of Louisiana LLC to install fiber optics in unincorporated areas and during discussion a juror asked that the company be required to notify the parish when underground utilities are struck; parish staff said they have already stressed that practice to the company.
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury adopted a resolution on May 21 approving a right‑of‑way use agreement with Bright Speed of Louisiana LLC to allow installation of fiber‑optic infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the parish.
During brief discussion, Juror Gilray asked that Bright Speed be required to notify the parish when their crews strike existing utilities. "Can we just ask them to let us know when they hit something or something? Because a lot of time they hit it, and they never say anything," Gilray said. A parish staff member responded, "Yes, sir. We have been stressing that to them. They do hit them quite often. Let us know and and they repair it, but we will stress that to them." The exchange was entered into the record before the jury carried the resolution.
Why it matters
Right‑of‑way agreements authorize private telecommunications companies to use public property to install broadband infrastructure. For residents and businesses, such agreements can lead to expanded service, but they also raise operational issues — including protection and coordination around buried utilities.
What’s next
Public‑works and engineering staff are responsible for implementing the agreement and for following up with Bright Speed on operational procedures and notification protocols if utility strikes occur.
