55 DECEMBER 2022 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Groundwater Week Booth 1306 302-684-319 Mfg., Inc. & Atlantic Scree et om ducts 7 n E-mail: atlantic@ce.n Atlantic-Screen.c Pipe Clear PVC j Inline Chemical Mixers j ell Rehabilitation Pro jW DE 142 Broadkill Rd Milton, ½” - 24 ranging fr Perforated of Slotted Manufactu Fax: 302-384-0643 more! MUCH And j Bailers Sampling j Locking Caps j Filter Sock j Bentonite j Manholes j ” om Pipe and rers 19968 Groundwater Week Booth 650 Communicating with Property Owners During Broadband Installations: Part 1 Adapted from Information by Vermeer Corporation According to BroadbandUSA, more than $45 billion in federal funding is being invested to install affordable, reliable, high-speed internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade. To make this happen, an entire industry will need to come together to install broadband cable and conduit in populated neighborhoods, rural communities, and in some cases, the middle of nowhere. No matter where the work happens, one thing all utility contractors need to consider before, during, and after a job is the people impacted during the project. Brandon Wagner, sales manager for Vermeer Utility, said one of the most common topics utility contractors ask him about is how they can keep residential and business property owners happy about construction work happening near or on their land. “Homeowners see someone marking utilities or digging in their yard and have many questions, and in some cases aren’t professional about the way they ask them. If they approach a crew member who doesn’t have the answers to all their questions, discussions could get heated quickly. To help avoid these types of interactions, contractors need to make sure they are communicating early and often, and restoring jobsites to their original conditions once the work is completed,” he explained. While this advice seems straightforward, it is often overlooked by contractors unsure about who is responsible for these communications. In many cases, the utility company oversees the installation of broadband fiber while conduit relies on subcontractors. They may send out a letter or postcard to property owners before a project starts, but it could be months before a crew actually gets to a specific street. By then, many people may have forgotten details of the letter. This can lead to conflicts when a crew shows up and starts potholing or walking around someone’s property. “Utility companies and subcontractors should determine a communication plan that supports ongoing communications throughout DIR Vermeer Cont’d on page 56.
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