Village Shuts Down Fiber Optic Construction

ORLAND PARK, IL — At a specially called Village Board meeting on Friday, Dec. 12, the Village of Orland Park ordered Astound, Abovenet (Zayo Group) and other internet service providers to halt all fiber-optic construction after a surge in resident complaints about unsafe, incomplete and disruptive work tied to fiber-installation projects.

“Everyone wants better internet, but it needs to be done the right way,” Mayor Jim Dodge said. “If a company is digging in front of your home, they should knock on your door, provide their contact information, and repair anything they damage—no excuses.”

Astound, one of several internet providers licensed by the State of Illinois to install high-speed internet, was directed to stop work following a Dec. 8 incident that knocked out power to approximately 300 homes resulting in a municipal ordinance citation being issued.

Until the following issues are fully addressed, the Village will withhold permits from any internet service provider:

• Unrepaired property damage
• Strikes to existing utilities
• Open holes, potholes or sidewalks left unrestored
• Work performed outside of permitted hours
• Subcontractors working without visible identification

“If you were impacted by the recent power outage or ongoing construction issues, please know that the Village is working diligently to ensure that state-authorized internet providers follow proper procedures, respect residents’ property, and minimize disruptions caused by their work,” the Village said in a release. “While the Village cannot prohibit Astound from providing or installing fiber-optic service, we remain firmly committed to keeping residents informed and holding all internet providers accountable.”

State-Authorized Internet Providers

Internet providers may construct infrastructure utilizing public easements through either a municipal franchise agreement or state-issued authorization. Of all internet service providers operating in Orland Park, only Xfinity operates under a municipal franchise agreement. All others operate under state-issued authorization in accordance with the Illinois Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007.

The Illinois Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 significantly restricts municipal authority to regulate internet services providers. Under the law:

• A municipality cannot withhold access to public right-of-way, including easements, when access is required for the installation, construction, and operations of cable, video, or telecommunications.
• A construction permit is automatically granted within 45 days after being submitted by an internet service provider, if not acted upon by the municipality and the provider complies with local requirements.

Despite these limitations, the Village’s Public Works Department has been utilizing Village resources to review, permit, and monitor construction activity, even though the projects are not Village-sponsored.

New Rules

In response to the mounting concerns across Orland Park, the Village is implementing stronger rules for internet service providers:

• Work Area Limits: Providers will be restricted in how many active construction zones they may operate at once to prevent overextension.
• Enhancing Installation Rules: The Village is expanding rules related to fiber installation:
  • Proof of Direct Resident Notification: Providers must send certified mail or provide documented notice before beginning work in a neighborhood.
  • Vehicle Identification: All contractor vehicles must clearly display the name of the internet provider.
  • Fines for Violations: The Village will expand fines for utility disruptions, failure to follow safety protocol, and delayed site restoration.
  • Stop-Work Orders: Any company not in full compliance with the rules will be issued a stop-work order and may not resume until full compliance is demonstrated.

Why Are There So Many Fiber Optic Internet Installations

Connect Illinois, the state’s 2019 broadband expansion initiative, provides $400 million in matching grants to internet service providers to enhance high-speed internet throughout the State of Illinois. In addition to $400 million in competitive grants, the Connect Illinois program included $20 million for upgrades to the 100 GB Illinois Century Network, the state’s existing 2,000-mile open access institutional fiber network serving over 3,400 K-12, higher education, and library locations across the state.

The current Connect Illinois Round 4 is being supported by the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. BEAD funding in Illinois is intended to get Connect Illinois closer to its goal of ubiquitous statewide broadband access – for homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions throughout the state. Investment in broadband access is meant to support economic development, education, precision agriculture, and telehealth efforts statewide.

Importance of Fiber Internet Installation

“Fiber broadband is essential for our Village’s future. From telehealth to remote learning, to working from home, our residents are increasingly dependent on reliable connectivity,” said Mayor Jim Dodge. “We want private companies to invest in broadband infrastructure and expand local options, but not at the expense of our residents’ quality of life.”

“We’ve seen a rise in citizen complaints and the Village takes seriously its responsibility to ensure construction in Orland Park meets our rigorous standards,” said Public Works Director Joel Van Essen. “We remain committed to ensuring our roadways, sidewalks, and utilities remain accessible and in good repair and we will continue to work with state-authorized providers to resolve issues, including those related to underground facility damages.”

During construction, internet service providers are responsible for mitigating any damage, addressing all resident concerns and fully restoring all construction areas. The Village’s Public Works Department meets regularly with providers to review complaints, enforce standards, track corrective action.

Residents may report issues directly to the providers listed on the Village’s dedicated fiber optic installation webpage, or contact the Public Works Department at (708) 403-6350 or e-mail publicworks@orlandpark.org for additional assistance.