City tells Nextlink contractors to cease boring until plan is in place

Dec 07, 2023

By Austin Jackson | on March 14, 2023

The City of Bridgeport has instructed Nextlink contractors to suspend the boring of fiber optic internet cable in the city until they devise a plan to reduce the frequency of water line breaks.

Bridgeport issued boil water notice Monday after reporting a water line break caused by the installation of fiber by the contractors on 14th Street. On Tuesday, city crews worked to repair and isolate the break of a 6-inch line at 9th Street and Carpenter Street.

The city called for the contractors to cease work "until a mitigation plan is in place to significantly reduce the number of water line breaks" Tuesday evening.

"Basically, we need to put some additional precautions in place to ensure that everything can be done to avoid interrupting water service to our citizens," said Bridgeport City Manager Mike Murray, adding that the city planned to meet with contractors Wednesday.

The city is seeking several changes, including fewer crews working at one time and physical verification of lines when necessary.

In 2022, the county entered an agreement with Nextlink to provide a minimum of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband service to 95 percent of households in the county, bringing high-speed internet access to rural areas with below-standard internet speed.

The move followed a 2020 National Association of Counties study that found Wise County broadband download speeds averaged under 20 Mbps, below the FCC's minimum standard of 25 Mbps.

Since late 2022, contractors have been installing internet infrastructure throughout the county, with Nextlink retrofitting 30 towers to increase broadband speeds.

The change has brought faster internet to the county, with speeds up to 500 Mbps possible, but several neighborhoods and cities have reported issues with the installation process, reporting damage to water lines and existing internet lines.

In a previous Messenger story, Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said he expects subcontractors to "make it right" with cities impacted by damaged lines.

The county is paying $1.3 million from its $13.5 million American Rescue Plan allotment to fund two-thirds of the total $1.95 million in fiber and fixed wireless network construction. Nextlink is funding one-third of those costs and assumes 100 percent of the operating costs.

While the primary installation of internet infrastructure is expected to be completed by April, Nextlink has also committed to constructing fiber in new subdivisions in the county at no cost to the county or developers.

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