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Vernon Hills approves master right-of-way license with Easy Fiber to expand broadband service
Summary
The Village Board approved Resolution 2026-022 authorizing a master right-of-way license with Easy Fiber to govern fiber construction in village rights-of-way, adding permitting, restoration and inspection requirements and a $10,000 annual fee; Easy Fiber promised resident outreach and local customer support.
The Vernon Hills Village Board on June 2 approved Resolution 2026-022 authorizing a master right-of-way use license agreement with Easy Fiber, a telecommunications company that plans to build fiber-optic infrastructure in village rights-of-way.
Director Vanetta and village legal staff said the agreement supplements the village's existing right-of-way ordinance by setting permitting protocols, design expectations, insurance and restoration standards and processes for third-party inspection and cost recovery. Village counsel said the agreement includes a $10,000 annual fee and allows the village to recoup third-party inspection and review costs while recognizing federal and state limits on outright prohibitions of telecommunications providers in public rights-of-way.
Alan Roth, Easy Fiber's local representative, told the board the company will prioritize community communications and on-the-ground response: "Our goal throughout this project is three things and that's to be visible, accountable and most importantly respectful to the community," he said, adding that residents will receive a minimum of three communications (and up to six) about construction, a local contact and a triage system with a 24-hour initial response and a seven-day target for restoration.
Staff and the petitioner also described technical details the board asked about: the conduit size (an inch and a quarter), that providers typically install and do not share their own conduit for security reasons, and that the agreement requires insurance and restoration guarantees. Village counsel reiterated that while the village can manage construction through permit terms and conditions, state and federal law limit its ability to prohibit authorized telecommunications providers from using the rights-of-way.
The resolution passed on a roll-call vote with Trustees Markwart, Oppenheim, Forester, Mundine and President Cook voting yes. Next steps include executing the license and commencing project permitting and technical reviews required before field work begins.
The board asked staff to monitor restoration performance and the company committed to leave a door hanger when crews work on a resident's property so homeowners know how to report concerns.
