Citywide Broadband Installation

Some of the frequent concerns/questions regarding the fiber-optic installation

Who are these people digging on my lawn, and who authorized it, and why was I not notified?

Florida Statute 337.401 (3) An authority may not: (f) Require direct or indirect public notification or a public meeting for the placement of communication facilities in the right-of-way. 

Who authorized these flags and marks to be put on my lawn? Why are they here? Can I remove them?

811 is the national “call before you dig” phone number.  All homeowners, contractors and their sub-contractors are required to call this number before digging by statute.  Flags and other marks placed in the area should not be removed or eliminated by anyone prior to the work being performed/completed.  Following the completion of the homeowner or contractor’s work, they can be removed (see www.call811.com for details).  

Why are they on my property?

The permitted installation is within the public ROW. The ROW extends past the outside of the roadway and can vary in width.  The city detail shows a 50-foot row where the ROW extends 12 feet outside the roadway, but this can vary throughout the city. Some areas may have additional Utility Easements noted on the plat. It is the contractor’s responsibility to verify that they remain within the ROW.

Who is responsible for the damages?

State Statute 337.401(2): The permit must require the permit holder to be responsible for any damage resulting from the issuance of such permit. 

The 3 main companies that are currently installing fiber-optic in Titusville: 

• Wire 3 
• Clearwave Fiber
• AT&T

Basic information…

In direct response and compliance with the Florida Legislature’s passage of House Bill 1239 (2021), the City of Titusville is proud to support efforts to expand broadband internet access to all residents, especially in underserved and unserved areas. This new law provides internet service providers with more opportunities to build infrastructure and connect Floridians to essential digital services.

To help implement this important initiative, the City of Titusville has issued right-of-way permits to a number of broadband companies, including Wire3 and AT&T, as registered telecommunications providers serving Brevard County. Wire3, AT&T, and their contractors are actively installing state-of-the-art fiber optic broadband infrastructure throughout Titusville, with a focus on areas that currently lack reliable internet access.

The city recognizes that this work involves activities in public rights-of-way and, in some cases, near utility easements, which have raised questions and concerns from residents. We want to assure the community that:

• Road rights-of-way vary throughout the city; a common road ROW is 50 feet wide, and all fiber installation activity is intended to remain within that boundary.
• In some areas, there is an additional easement for utilities. Occasionally, these easements may occur on private property. For more information, residents can refer to Florida State Statute 337.41, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of registered telecommunication companies when working in these areas.

In our commitment to transparency and proactive communication, the City of Titusville is launching a dedicated website landing page on Monday, June 9, 2025, where residents can:

• Access frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the installation process
• Learn more about the timeline and scope of the broadband expansion project
• Find contact information for Wire3, AT&T, and their subcontractors
• Submit concerns or questions related to the work in their neighborhood

While this broadband installation is a multi-year project—estimated to take up to two years—we are taking every step to ensure it is implemented as smoothly and respectfully as possible. Our goal is to minimize disruption while bringing the long-term benefit of reliable, high-speed internet access to every corner of our community.

“The City of Titusville is committed to providing timely and accurate information, along with links to useful resources for our residents during Titusville’s citywide fiber-optic installation process”, said Interim City Manager Tom Abbate.

“We thank our residents for their patience and cooperation as we work together to bridge the digital divide in Titusville”, added Abbate. 

More info…

Before attempting any underground boring, a subcontractor for Wire3, ATT, or anyone who has plans for digging more than 10 inches from the surface is required to call 811 to have the area reviewed for underground structures.  This process is outsourced to the contractor. Geopoint Surveying, Inc. (Florida Land Surveying - GeoPoint Surveying) is the city’s current contractor performing this work.  Geopoint will come out and use equipment to locate underground utilities (water pipes, clay pipes, conduit, etc.).  If and/or when a neighborhood has been surveyed by Geopoint, individuals will see different colored lines painted (or small flags placed in the ground) on the street, on the grass, in the dirt, etc.  Each color represents what they found I.e., red is electrical power or cables, yellow is gas, steam petroleum, orange is communication or cable tv, blue is potable water, green is sewer or drain lines, purple is reclaimed water, pink is a temporary survey mark, and white is a proposed excavation.  Residents can look for these lines and flags to know that, sometime within 30 days of the lines or flags being placed and a contractor will be coming out to perform an underground dig, excavation, or bore.  A surveyor can miss some structure, but in most cases, they are correct.  Occasionally, errors occur when a contractor makes an error and drills or borrows through underground structures, or they fail to call 811 to seek a survey.  The city repairs its structures when errors are made by a contractor performing this work, and a process is set in place to recover costs from the contractor doing the work.  Homeowners can do the same if their power, water, or electrical lines are tied into the city line and are damaged.