WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg City Council received an update from Glo Fiber at its October work session regarding the progress of the company’s internet fiber installation.
The city council approved a franchise agreement in September 2021 allowing Glo Fiber to install a “fiber to the user” broadband network throughout the city using public rights-of-way.
The agreement requires the installation to occur city-wide and be completed within 48 months of its approval. With 36 months of work underway, Shantel’s VP of Regulatory and Industry Affairs, Chris Kyle of Shenandoah Telecommunications, provided an update on the status of the Glofiber build-out and installation across the city.
According to Glo Fiber, the project so far has completed building fiber for 2,100 homes with 28 miles of fiber with a remaining 500 homes and four miles of fiber. There are also an additional 3,000 homes remaining to be constructed but require agreements for HOAs/MDUs.
“By year end, [the city] will see a diminishment of activity, the hardscape, the roadway and sidewalks will be taken care of, and then a crew working on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis as we work out the rest of the HOAs,” said Kyle.
Glo Fiber said a mitigation plan and improved communication practices have been put into place to address outstanding issues, damage complaints and improve communication during the final stages of work.
Kyle said Glo Fiber’s priority list for outstanding issues includes fixing resident issues, addressing restoration feedback issues from the city, staging ride-outs and regular meetings and contractor monitoring and reporting.
Glo Fiber also said during the balance of construction activity through 2024-25, it would improve prior notification before it starts work in a neighborhood and make monthly reports to the city from its “Damage & Complaint Tracker.” There is also a number residents can call to register complaints and an online contact form that can be completed.
Kyle did not give an exact date for the conclusion of the project but said it would be viewed as a success if construction was finished by the end of next year.
The full presentation can be watched online, the next city council meeting will be Nov. 14.
