High-speed LCUB Internet by fall 2024?

Tammy Cheek farragutpress.com

Lenoir City Utilities Board and FiberRise representatives presented their intent, with their fiber grid modernization project, to install fiber optic cable throughout Town to Farragut Municipal Planning Commissioners and staff at a Staff/Planner meeting in Town Hall boardroom Wednesday, July 5.

After describing the benefits of installing the fiber optic cable to electric customers — more efficient electrical service and decreasing downtime during outages — Sedric Fernandez, project manager for FiberRise, which is contracted with LCUB to install the cable, said area residents also will benefit with higher Internet speeds.

However, staff and Planning Commissioners advised LCUB and FiberRise that when they address FMPC, the Commissioners will want to know more about the method of permitting, when the Internet will be online and where and when the fiber will be installed.

Fernandez said he estimates the time frame of construction to be between Aug. 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024.

“July 1, 2024, is that (when Internet is) in service?” Planning Commissioner Jon Greene asked.

“No, that’s just the end of construction,” Fernandez answered. “Usually, it’s about three to four months following” when Internet would be in service.

Staff also passed along questions they anticipate from customers following the construction.

“Do you replace landscaping?” assistant to Town administrator Trevor Hobbs asked. “I know, technically, you’re required to, if it’s in the right-of-way, but …”

“Ideally, you dig out what you need to — pull the sod up, drop it and replace it (afterward),” said Randy Dooling, also a FiberRise project manager.

“That’s a detail people will want to hear,” Hobbs said. “It will make them more comfortable knowing (FiberRise) will take the care to do that.”

Mayor Ron Williams, also an FMPC member, reminded the FiberRise officials the FMPC meeting will be on television.

“The cameras will be on you, and this will be live, and it will also be recorded so people can go back and look at it on YouTube,” he said. “So, the more foundation you give … I’d rather you be there 12 minutes, 16 minutes, whatever it takes to let people know, and then there will be less phone calls to everybody.”

Another major concern for planners is how LCUB and FiberRise plan to get permits.

Fernandez said there will be about 98 permits that will have to be obtained for the project inside Town limits.

“Each permit will be by Design Areas (or quadrants) as the construction crews build/invoice by DAs,” he said, adding DAs consist of both aerial and underground construction.

“We will break those (aerial and underground) up into two permits.”

Farragut Community Development director Mark Shipley said LCUB and FiberRise would need to come up with a plan for the permits before addressing FMPC, which will meet starting at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 20.