Some have seen those green boxes around Brownfield, either in an alley, by a fence, or next to a curb. Unlike what some might believe that those green boxes are little alien houses and they will come out at night to get you, those green boxes are actually “pedestals” that are covering the new fiber optic cables that Optimum is putting in. TownTalk brought you a story back (related story) in early January about a new company, Optimum, coming to Brownfield and other local communities that will have another option for internet and television services.
Suddenlink was purchased by Altice in 2015 for $9.1 billion. Altice then acquired the Optimum brand and Cablevision for $17.7 billion in June 2016. Cablevision was then combined with Suddenlink Communications to create Altice USA and become the fourth largest communications (internet/cable tv) operator in the United States. In mid-2022, Altice decided to rebrand and rename Suddenlink to Optimum and at the same time began placing new fiber optic in several communities to reach more customers.
Optimum is expected to reach nearly 16,000 homes and businesses across Brownfield, Seminole, and Hereford, with initial services becoming available sometime this year, 2023. According to Brownfield City Manager Jeff Davis, Optimum should be done very soon. The next portion of boring for pipes to run the fiber optic will take place on the southeast side of town, basically from the 800 block of South Howell to Escondido Circle. Davis said, “they broke up the boring into 45 “cells” (blocks/neighborhoods) and they are down to the last two.”
When asked if these pedestals are temporary or permanent, Davis said they will be permanent. There are some areas of Brownfield that Optimum placed “vaults” (below ground) to cover and get access to the fiber optic. Davis talked about how Optimum could have set the cables using the city’s poles and also bore down each alley because there is a place in the alley for communications like there is for gas, water, and electricity. However, Optimum was able to petition the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to gain access to the easements. PUC granted that access and the issue is out of the hands of the City of Brownfield. Davis said, “As city manager, I can tell them when they can work… their hours of operation, but I can’t tell them where to bore and place the pedestals or vaults, as long as they don’t get on citizens’ private property.”
Optimum is also expected to have 100% full fiber optic, however, so does their competitor Poka Lambro. So for the future, those little green boxes will be here to stay.
