The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs ACT of 2021/2022 promised more than a trillion dollars would be invested in infrastructure across the country. Up to $65 billion was allocated for broadband (fiber projects) internet to help ensure every American has access to reliable high-speed internet. All those dollars that were set aside to provide reliable high-speed internet were for installing new infrastructure. Finally, when these projects are granted, the timeline to invest the money will still be 5 years.
One of the talking points for the broadband initiative is that everyone deserves to be connected to the internet. Another talking point is high-speed internet is what each underserved community needs. No argument here, but don’t forget that what every underserved community also needs is the existing underground infrastructure to be protected while installing fiber. If you are out of water, you likely won’t be in the mood to watch another rerun of Gunsmoke.
As I talk to stakeholder groups across the country since the passage of the Infrastructure Bill, the topic that comes up consistently is how to manage workloads due to the unprecedented broadband network expansion projects anticipated to take place simultaneously across all states over the next 3 – 5 years. The frustrations are exacerbated because of the billions of dollars granted to states to place the fiber, none of it was allocated to protect existing underground facilities. While there is a clear financial impact on all owners/operators, for the smaller utilities, it is disastrous.
Perhaps it’s the fear of the unknown, but if utility locators struggle to keep up with the workloads of today, bringing in multiple subcontractors to meet unreasonable timelines will cause damages to trend in the wrong direction. Since many, if not most, state Dig Laws can’t provide needed relief to their members or locators, several municipalities and counties have enacted permitting processes not designed to generate revenue but designed to slow the excavation process down to meet the local utility’s ability to locate their underground facility.
Many of these permitting processes are unsustainable with current timelines for spending the grant money. As a result of what is happening at the local level and what could happen at the state level without written rules or regulations, many states are looking to create new ticket types, such as a large project ticket or looking for ways to manage workloads by creating additional and enforceable laws designed to encourage excavators from calling in for renewals when work has been completed. Others are also looking to require new contractors to go through state-specific Dig Law training prior to working in their state.
If 8 to 10 boring rigs show up in your town and all call in the maximum number of tickets allowed by your current law, and the law states it must be located within 2 or 3 days, is that possible? Well, of course not! So, in that case, who loses? And we all know the answer is everybody. Citizens depending on professionals to avoid disruptions to their water, wastewater, phone, gas or electricity will be impacted. The excavators will be impacted as they’ll dig blind until someone stops the work… and somebody will. The locators will be frustrated because they already know they can’t stay up with the work, and the pressure placed on them to do the impossible often leads to locators finding other jobs, creating an even greater dilemma. The utility owner/operators will be dealing with both irate customers and the cost of repairs. Elected officials will feel the heat from all sides.
There is a compelling reason for the excavators, locators and utility owners to work together. It follows the model of a pre-construction meeting. Exchanging contact information, ensuring that all stakeholders involved in the project are fully aware of where the work is taking place today and where it begins tomorrow, can and will create the environment for a successful project. The process begins and ends with two-way communication. Here are some of the things that should be shared:
A drawing of the project and the phases that were to start.
Expected start and projected end dates.
A list of all contractors/subs that will be working and their contact information.
Everyone in the room knows despite the best efforts of all involved, the project will be difficult. That is why they will call on one another daily to identify both problems and solutions, determined to make it work.
Admittedly, most of us have never worked on such a massive project, and we don’t know if getting all the stakeholders to work together is even possible.
I only know it is necessary!