Work began in mid-July for the installation of fiber-optic cable in Masury.
Utilus of Bluffton, S.C., has been issued a permit to install a fiber-optic network on the West Hill south of Warren Sharon Road, east of Brookfield Avenue, north of Erie Street and west of Stateline Road, said township Road Supt. Jaime Fredenburg.
Omni Fiber hired Utilus for the construction.
While the township trustees have been welcoming of another internet service and streaming provider in town, Trustee Dan Suttles said he was concerned about complaints about fiber-optic installations in other Ohio communities and the lack of timely restoration of properties.
Fredenburg said Utilus has never worked for Omni Fiber or in Ohio before. He said he talked to a representative of Fort Myers Beach, Fla., where Utilus has worked, and the rep said Utilus did “great work” there. Still, Fredenburg asked the trustees to grant a permit for only one of five areas in Masury where Omni Fiber wants to install its network.
“We want to start on phase one and see how this company performs,” Fredenburg said. After seeing how Utilus performs in the first section, Fredenburg will make a recommendation as to issuing permits in other sections, he said.
The company also is building a fiber-optic network in Sharon.
