High Speed Internet in Mesa

Overview

To better position Mesa 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).

Fiber Companies

What to Expect

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 page.

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

micro-trench-construction.png  

Below is an example of horizontal directional drilling

horizontal-directional-drilling.png  

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 Assessor'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 Assessor'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.

PUE-on-a-map-of-a-subdivision-plat.png  

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.

Please visit https://mesaaz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=cc1da8d164884fe29670b3c80012ad1d

 

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.

Construction Contacts

Internet service providers will notify residents and businesses located in the areas that might be impacted by construction, typically with door hangers. These door hangers include the company’s name, contact information, the contractor involved, tentative construction schedule and a general description of the work. The contact information on the doorhanger is the best phone number to call for construction concerns.

Construction Support Lines

Services Offered

City Support for Internet Service Construction

Internet service providers operate under license agreements. These agreements function similarly to those held by other utility companies within Mesa. These providers are responsible for designing and installing their own independent networks in designated areas.

If any construction work causes damage, their contractors and subcontractors are responsible for restoring the area. At their own expense, they must repair the area and return it to a condition that closely matches its original state, to the satisfaction of the City.

Although internet service providers are required to address resident concerns in a timely manner, if you’ve exhausted all possible options and are still experiencing issues, please submit a request through CityLink. Staff can help facilitate communication between the internet service providers and the public.

To help expedite the process, we encourage you to include pictures of the issue when submitting your request.

FAQ

What is fiber internet?
Fiber internet, or fiber broadband, is a high-speed internet connection through glass fiber optic cables that use light to transfer data. This technology provides faster and more reliable internet compared to traditional cable or DSL connections, which rely on copper wiring.

Why is Mesa allowing multiple companies to install fiber?
The Mesa City Council decided to open the market to encourage private sector investment and allow multiple internet service providers to compete. This approach helps achieve the goal of providing high-speed internet service to every premise in Mesa.

Is the City of Mesa installing fiber?
While Mesa does install and utilize fiber optic 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?
Construction began in 2022 and is currently ongoing.

Will fiber optic cable installation be disruptive?
As with any roadway construction, residents should expect temporary disruptions, which may include restricted lanes, partial road closures, and other activities. The duration of these disruptions will vary based on the construction methods used by the internet service provider but typically lasts a couple of weeks. To keep residents informed, the companies performing the work will place door hangers at affected properties, providing contact information for any questions, concerns, or coordination needs.

Residents are encouraged to use the contact information provided on the door hanger to reach out directly to the internet service provider or their contractors for assistance with event coordination or private property improvements.

Please visit the Explore Mesa map to learn more about Traffic Restrictions in your neighborhood. 

I have crews from an internet service provider company digging in my front yard, are they allowed to do this?
Yes. Internet service providers have license agreements allowing the use of Public Utility Easements (PUE) and Public Right-of-Way (ROW) that adjoin your property. These agreements operate in a similar manner to those used by other utility companies in the city. Contractors must have a permit authorized by the City of Mesa, which allows them to carry out the work.

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).

Back to top