Godfrey Board Approves Socket Fiber Deal After 3 Rivals Already Operate in Village
Updated
Updated · Alton Telegraph · Jun 17
Godfrey Board Approves Socket Fiber Deal After 3 Rivals Already Operate in Village
3 articles · Updated · Alton Telegraph · Jun 17
Summary
Godfrey trustees unanimously approved a right-of-way license agreement with Socket Fiber on Tuesday, reversing their May 19 rejection of the company's plan for a residential and commercial network.
Village Engineer Rich Beran said Illinois law bars Godfrey from prohibiting a properly authorized fiber provider from using public rights-of-way, though the village can regulate construction standards, location, traffic control and restoration.
Socket returned to address what it called misconceptions, telling trustees it targets underserved areas rather than duplicating existing fiber and presenting maps showing several planned buildout zones lack fiber carriers.
AT&T, Spectrum and Metro Communications already operate in Godfrey, making Socket the fourth fiber provider as the village shifts from blocking the project to setting terms for how it is built.