High Speed Internet in Mesa

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Overview & Updates
What to Expect
Construction Contacts

To better position our City for an increasingly digital world, the City Council has embarked on an ambitious initiative to encourage private sector internet service providers to bring additional high-speed internet access to every home and business in Mesa using fiber optic cable infrastructure. These fiber optic connections, offered by multiple service providers, will not only future proof Mesa but also grant residents and businesses access to the latest internet technology for online education, employment opportunities, and entertainment for decades to come.

While Mesa is fortunate to have excellent internet connectivity throughout our City, residents and businesses have expressed a desire for more internet service options. Mesa is privileged to have multiple internet service providers investing millions of dollars to offer high-speed internet options. These providers are designing and building their own independent networks in the public rights-of-way (ROW) and public utility easements (PUE). Here’s a list of the companies:

Fiber Companies

Construction

Construction work is happening all over Mesa in our Rights of Way and Public Utility Easements. Contractors are using different methods like horizontal directional drilling, trenching, tunneling, and micro trenching to put in conduits.

These conduits hold cables for things like the internet. Once the conduits are in, contractors blow the cables through them using strong air pressure and connect the network. Read more about our required construction standards on the Right of Way Management Group webpage.

Usually, the construction won't last more than a couple of weeks. But it's best to ask your internet provider for the exact schedule in your area. Sometimes things like bad weather or broken equipment can delay the work.

Utility companies are not required by law to co-locate their infrastructure with other providers, which means that even after one company is finished and the property is restored, other companies can come through the same area and start the process again.

Below is an example of micro-trench construction
example of microtrench

Below is an example of horizontal directional drilling
example of horizontal drilling

Conduits, fiber optic cables, vaults, and equipment are designed and constructed within rights-of-way and easements.

Rights of Way (ROW)

ROW is land that is owned or managed by the City, intended for public purposes and access. Within this area, the City plans where things like water, electricity, gas, internet, drainage systems, sidewalks, plants, traffic lights, street lamps, flood protection, walkways, and roads will go. The exact borders of this land can be different depending on where you are.

You can locate ROW areas by visiting the Maricopa County Assesor's Office Parcel Viewer map and selecting “Parcels."

Public Utility Easements (PUE)

A PUE (Public Utility Easement) allows private utility companies to use private property to build and maintain their infrastructure. It's one of the most common permissions found on properties, including residential. It's rare to own property without any easements. The size and exact boundaries of a PUE can vary depending on where you are. You can usually find a list of these permissions, including the PUE, in a property's Title Report under the "Schedule B" section. Information about easements might also be in recorded subdivision plats and property deeds. You can check these by visiting the Maricopa County Assesor's Office Parcel Viewer map and selecting “Parcels."

Here's a simple drawing that shows what a PUE might look like on a map of a subdivision plat. Example of PUE

Responsibilities for Fixing Property Damage

Should the contractor cause any damage to the surface or subsurface of ROW, PUEs, or any third-party properties, the contractor is required to restore the area. At their own cost, they must carry out repairs and restorations to the City’s satisfaction, ensuring the affected area is returned to a state that closely matches its original condition.

Notifications

As per Mesa City Code, internet companies must tell people beforehand if they're going to do construction near their homes. They'll give notice either by leaving a note at your door or sending a letter. This notice will have the company's name, contact details, who's doing the work, when they plan to do it, and what they'll be doing. Also, you might see big green signs at the entrances of your neighborhood, letting you know that construction will start soon or is already happening.

Markings

Blue, purple, green, orange, yellow, white and/or pink paint markings will be sprayed on the ground several weeks before construction begins. The paint tells contractors where existing underground utility lines are located so that they can be avoided when digging. The different colored paint marks are not only required by law, but also help prevent serious and fatal injuries and protect vital infrastructure. Locators most commonly use a water-based paint that will fade over time.

Why utility-location marks are important

Temporary Traffic Control

During construction, you may notice temporary parking and lane restrictions. The traffic barricading company will put up "No Parking" signs at least two days before construction starts to keep you informed. These signs will indicate when parking isn't allowed, typically from Monday to Friday, except on holidays. We know parking matters to you, and we aim to lessen any disruptions. If construction carries on through the weekend, the barricade company will update the signs beforehand. See interactive map below.

Noise

Construction staging, activity, and cleanup may cause additional noise; however the noise is required to stay within the limits of Mesa’s noise ordinances. City’s noise ordinance, including excessive and prohibited noise levels.

FAQs

What is fiber internet?

Fiber internet or fiber broadband is a high-speed internet connection conducted through glass or plastic fiber optic cables that transmit data as light. This technology makes fiber internet faster and more reliable than today’s cable internet or DSL that traditionally rely on copper wiring.
Why is Mesa allowing multiple companies to install fiber in the City?

Mesa City Council chose to open the market to maximize private sector investment and allow internet service providers the opportunity to compete. We believe that this approach will get us closer to our goal of having high-speed internet service to every premise of Mesa.
Is the City of Mesa installing fiber?

While the City of Mesa does install and utilize fiber optics cables for communication between its own facilities, these new internet service provider networks are 100% constructed, owned, operated and paid for by private sector companies.
When will construction begin?

Several companies have already begun construction! Residents will begin seeing increased construction activity in November 2022.
Will fiber optic cable installation be disruptive?

As with any construction along roadways, there will be minor temporary disruption to residents. This could include restricted lanes, partial road closures, and similar activity. Depending on the construction methodologies used by the internet service provider, these impacts could last a few days to a couple of weeks. The companies performing the work will notify impacted properties by placing a doorhanger with contact information for questions and concerns.
I have crews from an internet service provider company digging in my front yard, are they allowed to do this?

YES. The internet service providers in Mesa have license agreements allowing the use of Public Utility Easements and Public Right of Ways that adjoin your property, in a similar manner as other utility companies that operate in the city. In all cases, the contractor should have a permit authorized by the City of Mesa, allowing them to conduct the work they plan to perform.
Is the internet service provider required to notify me of construction work they plan to do at or around my home?

YES, a door hanger should be placed on your door several days before any planned construction occurs.

The door hanger should provide a phone number and identification of the company working in your area.

Should personnel from the contractor or their subcontractor need to access a rear easement, and nobody is home, then a door tag should be placed on the door alerting someone coming home that activity is occurring or has occurred on the property. Subcontractors working for the cable operators have the same requirement to notify you of any activity that may affect your residence.

For restoration concerns, please contact the contractor directly.
What are these boxes doing in my yard?

The "boxes" you see are called pedestals. Pedestals vary in size, shape and color. The equipment enclosed in the pedestal serves various purposes. The equipment inside is used to deliver services to customers and/or boost the quality of the signal to homes in the area.
I want the pedestal(s), vaults or equipment in my yard relocated, can I request this to be done?

The providers may be able to relocate equipment to another area in the public utility easement of the same property. The cost of this relocation can be quite expensive and this expense may be the responsibility of the homeowner or resident.
What responsibility does an internet service provider have to restore damages to my property incurred because of their work?

The provider or its subcontractors are required to restore any property affected by their work to a condition comparable to how it was found.
I have had a billing discrepancy with my internet service provider. Who do I talk to about resolving my problem?

Please contact your provider directly regarding billing issues.

If you feel you have exhausted all possible avenues with the cable provider, contact the Arizona Attorney General's Office or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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City of Mesa

High Speed Internet in Mesa

Fiber Companies

Construction Support Lines

Services Offered

FAQs