Google Fiber heads to Kyle, anticipates 2026

KYLE — At its Sept. 3 meeting, Kyle City Council approved an agreement with Google Fiber for a non-exclusive public Right of Way (ROW). In June 2023, Google Fiber notified council that it was ready to begin the installation of fiber and offer services to the community. According to agenda documents, since then, city staff has worked to create a non-exclusive public ROW License Agreement in support of the city’s broadband service expansion. “Tonight we get to announce that the city of Kyle is the first in Hays County and the first city located along the IH-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio to receive Google Fiber optic internet services,” said assistant city manager Amber Schmeits. The terms of the agreement are as follows: • Kyle grants permission to use and occupy the ROW • Google Fiber must apply for and receive permits to work • Any damage must be repaired in a timely fashion • Kyle has a right to reject contractors and subcontractors based on performance • Google Fiber must comply with the city’s microtrenching policy • Google Fiber must have a performance bond of $100,000 for all of its permits • Google Fiber must have insurance at $2 million, with the city listed as an additional insured • Kyle receives a license fee of 1% of gross revenue for 20 years, with auto renewals of five year terms Microtrenching is the installation of small conduits within the edges of the sidewalk to house fiber optic cabling. City staff will work on finalizing the details and general notes, as well as updating the Code of Ordinances to include microtrenching “as a permitted method to deploy telecommunications infrastructure,” reads agenda documents. According to John Michael Cortez, head of government and community affairs for Google Fiber in Texas, construction would start in 2026. “The good thing about the way we build our network is that we don’t need to build the entire city before we start turning it on. So, service will be activated as neighborhoods are completed,” explained Cortez. “As the time comes, you’ll probably hear, again, a lot of us stress to you about the contractors that you use because that’s our number one issue we have with residents is that their yards get torn up, water gets used in areas where they shouldn’t be and so on,” said council member Michael Tobias. “But we’re excited that you’re coming, so thank you.” The item was approved unanimously.