Utilizing a franchise agreement with the City of Bartlesville, national internet provider Bluepeak has been installing infrastructure in Bartlesville in preparation of offering fiberoptic cable and internet services to local businesses and residents. Several residents have contacted the City with questions about the installation. Director of Engineering Micah Siemers has the answers in today’s Director’s Cut.
CITY BEAT: Let’s start at the end: What is happening, and what is generating so many questions about this project?
SIEMERS: What is happening is that Bluepeak is installing fiberoptic cable citywide so they can offer high-speed internet and cable service in Bartlesville. Of course, this is a major undertaking, so it will eventually impact pretty much every residence and business in Bartlesville. Some people are just curious about the project, and some have concerns about the disturbances the installation is creating in their neighborhoods and yards.
City offices are receiving calls about yards being dug up for the installation. Why is the digging necessary?
Where poles exist, Bluepeak is installing the fiber overhead, so some residents won’t notice as much of a disturbance. But in most cases, it has to be buried in the City right of way or platted utility easements, which are typically located in front of the residence or back yards. Obviously, this method of installation is a little more intrusive. These are really the only two options the company has, as there is no other way to install the infrastructure needed to offer these services.
What role does the City play in this?
The City maintains franchise agreements with local utility companies that allow these companies to install and maintain infrastructure necessary for offering services to local residents by accessing City “rights of way” or public utility easements. The City Council approved the same agreement with Bluepeak that we have with every other utility company offering services in Bartlesville. These companies are required to obtain permits through the Engineering Department to conduct the installations. We also ensure that these jobs are completed and rights of way are restored. That’s the extent of City involvement.
Is Bluepeak notifying people before work starts in their neighborhood?
They are. They’re actually mailing or leaving three notices at the residence at various stages prior to the start of installation. What we’re finding, though, is that people either aren’t seeing the notices or they forget before the installation actually starts.
When will this project be complete?
This project is estimated to have a two-year build-out, so it’s going to be around for a while.
City Beat has in the past encouraged people to contact the Engineering Department if they had questions. Is that changing?
We did previously ask people to contact us if they had questions or concerns about any aspect of this project. However, what we’ve found is that it has been far more productive to put people directly in touch with Bluepeak. So we’ve shifted that somewhat and are now recommending that people contact the company directly. That takes us out of the middle and allows Bluepeak to handle these matters directly, which is what they want and have requested to do as well.
Is there a schedule showing when and where this work will be underway?
Bluepeak is putting together a schedule for us to use and share with the public, which we will do as soon as it becomes available. We will publish this and other relevant information about the project as needed in City Beat, of course, as well as post it on the City’s Facebook page, City of Bartlesville GOV, and website, www.cityof bartlesville.org.
How can people reach Bluepeak?
Anyone with questions, complaints or concerns can call the Bluepeak hotline at 1-888-975-4BLU or 1-888-975-4258.
Is there anything else people need to know?
I think it’s important to keep in mind that this project is a major installation of infrastructure on a magnitude that probably most of us have never seen before. I certainly don’t remember anything like it occurring in Bartlesville during my lifetime. Any project of this scale is bound to bring with it some inconveniences in the short-term — that’s inevitable — but it will, hopefully, all be worth it in the long run.
For more information, see www.mybluepeak.com, or contact Bluepeak at 1-888-975-4BLU or 1-888-975-4258.