Google Fiber has revamped its network construction plans in San Antonio after city residents complained about Google Fiber's placement of necessary network infrastructure in city parks. A number of the 32 by 50 foot fenced in huts were scheduled to be installed in parks, annoying residents that didn't want to see park space wasted, and say Google Fiber didn't do a very good job (read: any) informing them that the huts would be installed. Seventeen huts were planned, and two had already been constructed.
After a period of silence during which the city and Google Fiber
didn't appear to have been talking, Google Fiber says the company has revamped its deployment plans.
This apparently involves new, smaller and less ugly fiber huts that are being deployed around the city. It also involves dismantling the older, bigger huts, built back in 2016, that many park neighbors say they weren't informed were even going to be built.
“The lack of transparency. The fact that they didn't talk to the neighbors. They skipped many of the rules that they require many of the citizens to conform with,” John Whitsett, a resident who lives near the park, tells local San Antonio News outlets.
Google Fiber says the company will be building the remainder of the fiber huts in less conspicuous locations -- with the full blessing of city residents. Google Fiber says the company is also ramping up its experimentations with
microtrenching, which uses a machine to dig just 12-inches deep under the edge of the road, avoiding digging on local homeowners' property and minimizing disruption during fiber deployment.