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Sinton approves settlement and rights-of-way agreements with Lyte Fiber for citywide broadband build
Summary
The Sinton City Council approved a settlement and a rights-of-way usage agreement with Lyte Fiber, LLC that will allow a citywide fiber network; Lyte agreed to quarterly payments equivalent to about $800 per month based on projected take rates and to repair right-of-way damages, and the city remains under no obligation to switch from its current Spectrum contract.
The Sinton City Council on April 21 approved a settlement agreement and a rights-of-way usage agreement with Lyte Fiber, LLC that clear the way for the broadband company to construct and operate a fiber network in city rights-of-way.
City Manager John Hobson said Lyte Fiber is a certified telecommunications provider under Chapter 283 of the Texas Local Government Code. Under the settlement, Lyte Fiber will make quarterly payments beginning July 1, 2026, or upon completion of a citywide network, whichever occurs first. Hobson described the payment level as effectively $800 per month based on a per-line access rate and an anticipated subscription rate of about 40% across roughly 2,000 homes, and the agreement sets remediation responsibilities for any damage in the right-of-way.
The settlement originally included language that would have required the city to receive service from Lyte Fiber; because the city currently holds a contract with Spectrum, that requirement was removed and replaced with language committing the parties to negotiate in good faith on future service, with any eventual service arrangement subject to a separate agreement.
Council also approved a Rights-of-Way Usage Agreement that authorizes Lyte Fiber to install fiber in alleys, under roadways and on utility poles for which they hold contracts, and to make repairs required by Chapter 283. Hobson said the agreement is the usage contract the city intended prior to settlement discussions. Both measures passed 5-0.
Why it matters: the agreements permit Lyte Fiber to construct and operate a fiber network inside Sinton’s public rights-of-way and establish the company’s repair and payment obligations to the city. The agreements do not commit the city to accept Lyte Fiber as its provider while an existing Spectrum contract remains in place.
What’s next: Lyte Fiber’s construction schedule and final service agreements, if any, will determine when residents can subscribe. The city’s public works and legal departments will oversee right-of-way compliance and remediation.
