Council hears first presentation on Forge Fiber master use permit; company plans to operate acquired Lumen assets

At first presentation on May 28, the council was briefed on a proposed Master Use Permit (MUP) and franchise agreement to authorize Forge Fiber to operate fiber infrastructure in city rights-of-way. Mr. McClain introduced the item as a standard MUP for a telecommunications utility; Carly Nations, representing Forge Fiber, said the company (a subsidiary of AT&T according to her remarks) purchased substantial fiber assets from Lumen and seeks to operate existing aerial and underground lines and, in the future, expand service to more customers.

Nations said the red lines on her map indicate aerial fiber and green lines indicate underground facilities that typically connect to customers. She told council members that routine maintenance on existing assets should cause minimal disruption, while future expansions will require permits, traffic control and public notice consistent with the city code. "For the existing facilities, typically any sort of operational work would be... maintenance work," Nations said, adding that the city’s code requires right‑of‑way permits for work and notifications to residents when applicable.

Councilmembers asked about past coordination problems when multiple projects occurred in the same corridors, the handling of above‑ground facilities, and whether residents on private roads could get service—Nations said the MUP covers city right‑of‑way only. City Attorney Trudy Pratt confirmed that right‑of‑way permits are required for work and that permit terms had been violated in prior incidents with a subcontractor, noting that the MUP itself does not automatically prevent future permit violations but does establish the permitting framework.

Council did not take action; staff will bring the MUP back for further review and a future council decision.