City of Glendale, CA
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Background Information:
City of Glendale Water & Power (GWP) department is embarking on an ambitious project to build a new high speed fiber optic broadband network. This network is designed to provide access to high speed communication services for Glendale’s business community, City buildings, utility facilities, libraries, and other anchor institutions in the City.
City of Glendale currently has about 98 miles of fiber lines serving City buildings, utility communication needs, libraries, police and fire facilities. Limited dark fiber services are offered with just one commercial customer being served currently. In 2015, GWP hired a consultant to prepare a fiber business plan and the plan was approved by Glendale City Council in August, 2016. The fiber business plan called for increasing the presence of GWP in Glendale’s telecommunications market by establishing a high speed fiber broadband network to provide access to high speed communication services to the business community in Glendale. Recommended service offerings include Dark Fiber, Optical Wavelength, Metro Ethernet and Dedicated Internet Access. The design of the fiber backbone of the new network was completed in 2021.
Construction of the Fiber backbone of the Network:
In February 2022, GWP hired HHS Construction LLC to install the fiber backbone of the network. Construction of the fiber backbone is slated to start in July 2022 and would take one year to complete. The project involves both overhead and underground sections. Fiber cable will be attached to over 1000 existing utility power poles as well as 14 transmission towers along the Verdugo mountains. Furthermore, fiber cable will be installed in existing conduits, pull boxes and vaults. Where there is a lack of such underground substructures, new substructures will be installed to enable fiber cable installation.
The work involves installing new substructures in some locations. Also fiber optic cable will be pulled in new and existing substructures, including conduits, pull boxes and vaults. This would require temporary street or lane closures, traffic rerouting, parking restrictions etc. Fiber cable will be attached to power poles in the public rights of way. This could result in temporary lane closures, parking restrictions etc. However, GWP and the contractor will make every effort to minimize the impact of these events on the residents of Glendale. At least 48 hours’ notice will be provided with no parking signs posted for parking restrictions. Furthermore, adequate notice will be provided using street signs, door hangers etc.