Frisco Fiber Optic Installation Slows After Multiple Gas Line Ruptures

FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) - Neighbors say the price of faster internet is coming with a new danger. Some worry that big mistakes are putting neighborhoods at risk.

Deep trenches in right-of-ways have become major eyesores in some Frisco neighborhoods.

Crews are working to install piping to house fiber optic cable, but in the meantime homeowners are worried about more than just how it all looks.

"There's all kinds of dangers to their digging if they're not careful," homeowner Janette Brown said.

Brown found out that the hard way when she says crews knocked out her cable, but that's nothing compared to a few blocks over where another crew hit two gas lines forcing firefighters to close streets during repairs Thursday.

"They knocked out our cable and TV, which of course is just an inconvenience and is not a danger, but I feel for the families that have had to worry about whether or not they have to evacuate their house or if their house will be there when they get back," Brown said.

Halfway into February we've already seen five gas line ruptures from crews digging across Frisco neighborhoods.

Installing the pipe to house fiber optic lines can be difficult work, and underground lines have to be marked carefully before a dig can begin.

Frisco officials insist they will shut down any contractor without proper permitting, but the city says AT&T had all its paperwork straight when one of its crews struck two lines Thursday giving homeowner Jerad Rector a scare.

"We have a two-and-a-half-year-old and a dog, so we just packed everybody up and ran some errands for a few hours," Rector said.

A city spokesperson says AT&T's installation schedule is posing challenges for line locators to keep up with requests, so the company has agreed to slow down its fiber installation.

"If they're not pushing so fast, maybe not so many mistakes will be made," Brown said.

AT&T released the following statement regarding the gas breaks,

"We are coordinating closely with city officials on our project to expand and enhance our network in the Frisco area. Our crews are trained to closely follow local construction requirements and codes, and work hard to minimize any disruption for residents. We apologize for this inconvenience."

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