Mayor says IIG waived initial hookup fee as town negotiates fiber access vault

Mayor Sydney Wiley updated the council on ongoing negotiations with IIG regarding fiber-optic infrastructure, saying the company offered an in-kind service and that an access vault is soon to be installed at the corner of Highway 89 and 5th Street. She described the arrangement as intended to "help the town promote an endpoint service or franchise that can be offered to the town to make it easier for fiber companies to hook up and offer services to our community."

Wiley told the council that, "Per negotiations, IIG is waiving the initial hook up fee for a company access with town hall getting an initial amount of service, as well as helping to find a company willing to come into Clyde Park and install." Town attorney Jon Hesse reaffirmed the mayor’s description and compared it to Bozeman’s experience as an illustrative example of how the town might attract providers.

Council discussion focused on using the waived hookup as leverage to attract retail providers and on oversight for restoration where construction had caused complaints. No formal franchise agreement or service provider was named at the meeting.