The installation of fiber networks is a private utility business endeavor, and the City’s role is to facilitate a permitting process. The City does not have the authority to dictate when and where the networks install their fiber infrastructure, or which customers they serve.
Contact
For questions or concerns about citywide fiber projects, please contact the providers below.
Google Fiber
https://fiber.google.com/support/
https://fiber.google.com/cities/westminster/
Metronet
www.metronet.com/construction.
Phone: 877-386-3876
Intrepid/Congruex
https://www.congruex.com/project/intrepid-westminster/
How Fiber Cable is Placed
Right-of-Way
Utility providers (e.g., water, sewer, telecommunications) may place their facilities in the public right-of-way. The term right-of-way is used to identify a property interest held by the City in trust for public use. When describing a property interest, the term generally refers to land used for transportation purposes. Although most people think of vehicles when using the word transportation, it is also used to describe movement of a good like electricity, water, natural gas, or oil. Right-of-way interests are held for uses like railroads, electric transmission lines, pipelines, ditches, and roadways.
The City maintains authority to regulate how and when it may be used by members of the public, and public or private entities. The City manages work in the right-of-way through the Westminster Right-of-Way Regulations. Before work in the right-of-way starts, a company must obtain a permit from the City. The permit does not cover or allow work by those companies outside of the right-of-way.
When thinking of right-of-way in Westminster, picture the public roadway, plus a portion of space adjacent to the traveled portion of the roadway. The width of the right-of-way is not limited to the paved or concrete portion of the roadway. Where the sidewalk is attached to the curb, the right-of-way often extends several feet beyond that identifiable landmark. In many residential subdivisions in the City, the right-of-way extends into an area that is frequently assumed to be private property. The actual width of the right-of-way owned by the City at a specific location is, therefore, not always readily identifiable. It is defined on the plat of the subdivision or other conveyance document and can be identified on the ground by a surveyor. It is important to recognize that the location of the right-of-way is not uniform nor consistent throughout the City.
Easements
An "easement" is the right to use the property of another for some defined purpose. Utility easements exist on most properties within the City and are for use by public utility service providers. These easements permit utility companies to access private property to construct, install, maintain, protect, and repair their facilities. The facilities may include such things as underground electric lines, hand holes, underground water and sewer lines, or junction boxes. The rights in any easement are generally superior to the rights held by the landowner. The location of underground utilities on a property can be determined by calling 811.