Sioux Falls residents: Front yard broadband utility boxes a surprise

Dec 05, 2023

At first, Will Bushee assumed the green box in his front yard was temporary.

There'd been road construction near his home in southern Sioux Falls, but when a hole was bored into his front yard and filled with a green pedestal, he started to have concerns and contacted the city.

They told Bushee it wasn't a city project, though. Vast Broadband, an internet service provider in Sioux Falls and Vermillion, is expanding their fiber optic network throughout the city.

And once Vast receives a private utility permit from the city, they're allowed to place "telecommunication pedestals" within a utility easement on private property, which can include a home's front yard.

But Bushee and other residents say no one informed them about the plans.

Mike Heiberger, a principal engineer with the city, said when Vast representatives applied for their permits, they'd assured the city they would be sending out mailers about the construction, followed by doorhangers.

More: Cash incentive to be offered at pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Empire Mall

"We are hearing from residents that in some instances that didn't happen," Heiberger said.

Ron Gaspar, who lives in the same neighborhood as Bushee, said he hadn't seen any notice, pointing at a pile of dirt he said had been left behind as the pedestal was added.

"It's just a shame they wouldn't let you know," Gaspar said.

"Do I care if you bury a cable in my yard? No," another resident Kim Euker said. "Do I care if you position something in a way that will not deter value? No. Do I care that you’ve installed this God-forsaken ugly green box in my yard that now I have to mow around? Hell yes."

More: Sioux Falls homeowners are speaking against apartment buildings. City officials are tired of it

Vast's website has a FAQ section that explains they are permitted to do the work on private property, and also asks residents to mark underground items including sprinkler systems or sump pump lines.

Vast currently has applied for and received 16 of the permits since June 18, Heiberger said, which each cover about a quarter-mile of space.

He said the city has asked Vast to finish the work they're doing and "re-evaluate their communication plans" before continuing to install the pedestals — of which there will likely be many more.

Heiberger said Vast's expansion plan "includes a better portion of the city," and the city hadn't seen something like it in years.

Representatives from Vast did not respond to requests for comment.

After the Argus Leader published this story Friday afternoon, Mayor Paul Tenhaken issued a statement on social media about the situation. He called it "unacceptable" and said the city had stopped all permitting issuances for the company until a plan to correct the issue was presented.

"We have escalated this all the way to their executives and are expecting rapid resolutions given the many complaints," Tenhaken tweeted. "Thanks for your patience."