Sonic.net

Our neighborhood is a turn-of-the-last-century area with utility poles behind the properties. Carried on these poles are PG&E, AT&T, Comcast, and now Sonic.

I just got my Sonic fiber about a month ago, and it's been great. My pole is in my backyard, and I freely allowed whatever access was required for both me and my neighbors.

But many folks on our neighborhood email list are saying that Sonic can't supply them with Sonic fiber because of access issues to these poles in the backyard. Some are saying that neighbors are not providing access to the poles while others are saying that Sonic doesn't have enough money to cover every house in the neighborhood, or can't even string the poles for whatever reason. Some of this misinformation seems to be speculation on the part of my neighbors, but some others claim that Sonic tells them these things.

I thought all utilities had access to these poles because of easements. Isn't accessing them just a matter of notification, not permission?

Super confused about this. What is the true story?

When it comes to easements Sonic does have the right to access the pole(s) in question. However sometimes the land owner where the pole is located may deny access and Sonic then has to take more steps to obtain access to the easement aside from notification and completing the work.

All in all Sonic is working effortlessly to expand our Fiber Infrastructure and sometimes lack of access to easements delays this. However usually we are delayed by overloaded or blown poles, and even micro-trenching permits prevent or delay us from being able to expand this infrastructure. I hope this provides some clarification and insight into the process.