Fiber companies are required to notify residents before performing work in their area. Residents can expect to see mailings and door hangers from fiber companies notifying them of upcoming construction.
This work to expand high-speed data networks is in alignment with demand for these services and is permitted in accordance with the provider's franchise or master licensing agreement with the Village. The provider may be accessing the public rights-of-way (most commonly the parkway) or private utility easements (most commonly in the side or rear yard). There is no requirement or obligation to sign up for service if crews are on your property.
Utility easements are strips of land used by utility companies or municipalities to construct and maintain electric, telephone and cable television lines, water, and sewer services. The property owner owns all of the land including the utility easements, however, utilities have a right to access that portion of land which has been designated a utility easement. Utility easements are usually created at the time the plat for a new development is designed and almost always exist along streets and rear lot lines.
The provider (along with their contractor) is responsible for restoring any area disturbed during construction, which may occur in utility easements located along property lines and can include areas in residential back yards. Contractors typically supply contact information in the notices they provide to let homeowners know work is being done in or around their yards. For AT&T, the Construction Helpdesk number is 1-800-843-6581.
Please keep flags and other markings in place until construction is fully complete, as their presence helps crews avoid areas such as gas, water, and electric lines.
The length of time required for each project varies. Crews may be in your yard anywhere from 30 minutes up to one day. If other utilities are overhead, crews will install fiber-optic cables on existing poles. If utilities are underground, the utility network will be buried in the same areas. Before beginning underground work, other utility companies will locate transmission lines and will temporarily move any obstacles within the utility easement.
