So what can a local government do with dark fiber? Rent it out to providers. Have it ready so that each providers who wants some doesn’t need to install it. (Dig once and dig on the local government’s schedule.)

Here’s how that looks in Burnsville based on notes from a City Council meeting this week…

The City entered into a Communication’s Site Lease Renewal Agreement in 2011 with Sprint Spectrum, L.P. (Sprint) for antennas located on the City’s Heather Hills Water Tower and their associated communications equipment installed adjacent to the water tower (Sprint’s facilities).

Pursuant to the Renewal Agreement, Sprint has requested permission to install fiber optics to serve its facilities. The City has excess dark fiber optic strands and conduit available at the Heather Hills Water Tower site. City Staff working with Sprint proposed options to utilize City excess dark fiber optic strands.  The goal at the water tower/antennas sites (where we have several tenants leasing space for telecommunications) is to minimize any

additional encumbrances and disruption to the City’s property whenever possible.

The License Dark Fiber Agreement with Sprint is for the use of Two (2) excess Dark fiber optic strands within an existing City conduit.  Sprint’s fiber backhaul provider has fiber within a few feet of the City’s property; therefore the Dark Fiber route is rather short (1,172’) and will run from the right-of-way into the City’s property where the City’s Telecommunication’s building and Sprint’s facilities are located.  The license fee to be paid by Sprint will commence at $322.32 annually with a 5% increase each January 1^st for the use of the dark fiber and conduit.