Morgan council approves Comcast franchise to expand fiber to city

The Morgan City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 11 to adopt Resolution 26-37, approving a franchise agreement and a power pole attachment agreement that clear the way for Comcast to build fiber infrastructure within city rights-of-way.

A Comcast representative told the council the company plans a "100% private investment" and "to build fiber to every single house and business" in Morgan, promising symmetrical internet speeds and business-class options. City staff emphasized that Comcast must follow the city's permitting process and obtain pole-attachment approval for each location, with city technician Clark reviewing clearances on a case-by-case basis. "They still have to do all the permitting, that's required," Ty, a city staff member, told the council.

Council members probed potential fiscal and operational impacts. Ty outlined a municipal bond arrangement tied to a Utopia subscription covenant, noting the city has about 1,500 current connections and that the original covenant set a 504-connection threshold: "our commitment to them ... came out to be 504 connections," he said, explaining that if subscriptions fell below that number the city could be required to make up the difference from sales-tax or power-department revenues. Councilors said they want to avoid creating a situation where a municipal investment is undermined by new private entrants, but Ty and others characterized the marketplace as competitive and market-driven.

The council also questioned legacy infrastructure left behind from past providers and whether Comcast would clean up unused wires and equipment. The Comcast representative said cleanup is a priority during buildout and that the company would coordinate restoration and removal with city staff and affected residents. Council members flagged an inconsistency in the packet's insurance language — the franchise references umbrella limits of $2 million/$3 million while the pole-attachment language cites a $1 million minimum — and asked staff to reconcile the sections before final contract administration.

Tony (council member) moved to approve Resolution 26-37; after a voice vote the mayor declared the motion unanimous. The resolution authorizes both the franchise and the pole-attachment agreement, while reserving permitting review and attachment approval to city staff.