Would you like to have high-speed, low-cost fiberoptic internet at your house? Do you even know what that is? Or better yet, would it be worth potentially having your lawn wrecked, your car towed, or even your sewer line damaged?
Well, that’s what some residents have claimed to have experienced in one of the City of Las Vegas’ latest projects to improve internet infrastructure for its over 650,000 residents.
The project involves tech company Gigapower, which is owned by AT&T. Gigapower plans to add fiberoptics to its internet network, claiming it produces higher speeds. The company has contracted with Tilson, a construction company, to do “micro-trenching,” which is digging to install fiber optic cables underground.
The city-wide project is expected to last three to five years, with construction happening in multiple neighborhoods at once.
So, is all of this really worth it? Is it necessary? And for the aggravated residents: Who’s going to fix the damage? Who’s paying for it?
We asked Tilson, and Gigapower to join us with their answers to these questions. They declined, but they did provide us with statements:
Tilson’s statement reads in part:
“Tilson has been actively engaging with residents in the Downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods to address concerns and respond promptly to any issues related to our construction work. In September and October, Tilson participated in two public meetings hosted by the City of Las Vegas, providing an opportunity to speak directly with residents and Neighborhood Association Leaders. To ensure open communication, we’ve designated team members as Points of Contact for this project.”
Tilson can be reached via email.
Gigapower’s statement reads in part:
“Our project supports the community’s growth by providing faster, more reliable internet speeds to residents and local businesses. We carefully select experienced, professional contractors to place fiber in the communities we serve.
Before a project begins, we provide residents and businesses with important information about upcoming activities by knocking on doors, leaving door hangers, placing yard and street signs, and more. During construction, we implement traffic control measures to help residents and businesses safely access their properties and nearby roads. After construction is completed, our crews remove debris and restore any impacted pavement or landscaping, so it looks as good or better than it did before the work began.
When concerns arise, which they inevitably do during major construction, it is our team’s priority to work directly with municipalities, homeowners, and residents to address issues promptly and effectively.”
Guests: Patricia Haddad Bennet, member, Crestwood Neighborhood Association; Rae Lathrop, president, John S. Park Neighborhood Association; Michael Sherwood, chief innovation and technology officer, City of Las Vegas; Alan Livengood, director of field operations, Cox Communications
