WHAT WE ASK

What We Ask

We are not asking for improved notices or slightly better restoration work. We are asking Orange County to recognize that its current policy — allowing unlimited trenching by unlimited private companies in perpetuity — is unsustainable, unreasonable, and inconsistent with both the original intent of private utility easements and the County’s duty to protect its residents.

Our Requests

We urge Orange County to:

  • Pause further trenching activity in residential easements until the long-term risks and cumulative impacts are studied.

  • Acknowledge that unlimited trenching is not “reasonable utility use.” Repeated excavation in small front yards is an overburdening of easements under Florida law.

  • Develop clear regulations that place limits on the number and frequency of private trenching projects in residential neighborhoods.

  • Evaluate and adopt a coordinated infrastructure policy (such as “Dig Once”) to prevent redundant, duplicative trenching by private providers.

  • Increase transparency and public communication so that residents understand what work is being conducted, by whom, and why.

Why This Matters

This issue deserves urgent attention by the Board of County Commissioners, Public Works, and relevant state regulators. Orange County has an opportunity to protect residents, preserve neighborhood infrastructure, and adopt modern best practices that are already in use across the country.

This is not about resisting technology or opposing fiber. Residents support modern communications. The concern is the scale, frequency, and unregulated nature of the trenching now underway — and the County’s own admission that there is currently “no limit” to how much disruption residents must endure.

Our Commitment

We believe Orange County can and must do better. Accordingly, we are prepared to continue pressing this issue until meaningful change is made, including bringing it to the attention of state officials and the media if necessary. At the same time, we welcome the opportunity to work with County leadership toward a reasonable, balanced solution that supports broadband expansion while protecting homeowners.