Comcast is interested in expanding its next-generation high-speed fiber internet service into your community. Today, much of this area lacks a high-speed, reliable fiber internet provider, and having one like Comcast can provide key benefits to you and your neighbors.

Comcast is looking to gain access to the existing utility easement on your property. In order to do so, the landowner must sign an easement agreement with Comcast. Then, Comcast can install the necessary fiber infrastructure within the easement that will provide high-speed internet access to you and your community.

Texas defines an easement as a legal right to use someone else’s land for public or private purposes. In this case, Comcast would work within an utility easement to install fiber lines and other small equipment, about the size of a shoebox, that will provide access to high-speed internet to your community.

There are several ways to know if you have an existing easement on your land. First, your land survey will indicate any easements that exist on your property. Second, the title work provided during the purchase of your home or land will also note any easements. In cases where a utility cooperative, like San Bernard Electric Cooperative (SBEC), exists, you may already have an easement agreement on file.

Telecommunications infrastructure often follows electric lines, located in existing utility easements. As Comcast expands its infrastructure in Texas, we will need access to utility easements, even when on private land. Once easement access is granted, fiber lines can be installed to serve you and your community.

To get started, Comcast will first need a signed utility easement agreement with the landowner. This easement agreement is similar to the one you, as the landowner, already have with San Bernard Electric Cooperative (SBEC) for the utility poles on your property. An agreement will allow Comcast to properly access the utility easement on your property so that fiber lines and other small equipment, about the size of a shoebox, can be installed on existing utility poles.

No. Only the legal landowner may sign an easement agreement. All legal landowners must sign. If you are not the legal landowner, information about how to contact that person is greatly appreciated. Please share this information with the Comcast representative that will visit with you.

A notarized signature is all we need from you. A Comcast representative, who will be visiting with you, can use a mobile notary. The agreement can be notarized within minutes with a valid state-issued ID.

No, Comcast covers the cost of the easement itself including notary services and filing fees.

No. No ownership rights are transferred by having an easement agreement with Comcast. You will remain the landowner.

Easements stay with the land, until the easement is no longer needed by Comcast.

Comcast may only conduct activities that are expressly detailed in the easement agreement and may not deviate from that agreement. Comcast will access utility easements for the purpose of installing fiber lines and other small equipment, about the size of a shoebox, that will give you and your community access to high-speed internet. Comcast may also require periodic access to the easement for other related reasons, for example repairs and maintenance.

After an easement agreement is signed and Comcast accesses the utility easement, our crews will use vehicles and other equipment to begin installing fiber lines and other small equipment, about the size of a shoebox, on or near existing utility poles. Our work will not impact powerlines.

Our standard practice is to attempt to notify the contact person for the property before doing material work. However, there may be emergency or other urgent situations where sufficient notice is just not possible. During such times, we may have to access our fiber lines and equipment in the utility easement without notice. When we do, our standard practice is to leave a notice on your property letting you know we were there and who to contact if there is an issue.

No. Granting Comcast easement access does not mean you are obligated to use Comcast as your internet service provider. Should you choose to grant access, once Comcast’s network is installed you and others in your community can sign up for service.

Our crews work as safely and as quickly as possible. For the most part, installing fiber lines and small equipment on utility poles will be performed as quickly and safely as possible.

You can expect our crews to use vehicles and bring equipment for the installation of fiber lines.

In some areas, utility poles are located in public rights-of-way. In other areas, easement agreements with private landowners are required. Since San Bernard Electric Cooperative (SBEC) has located its utility poles on your property, telecommunications companies like Comcast are required to obtain a separate easement from landowners.

Studies show high speed fiber internet may have the following benefits:
• Enhanced Property Value: Access to fiber internet may significantly enhance you and your neighbors’ property values.
• Educational Opportunities: Access to high-speed internet is essential for students and educators alike. By providing access, you would help ensure that children in your community have the resources they need for a quality education, ultimately benefiting the future of our community.
• Telemedicine: In today’s digital age, telemedicine is becoming increasingly important. Access to high-speed internet allows residents to consult with healthcare professionals remotely, providing essential healthcare services to all members of our community.

Comcast will not provide compensation to the landowner for an easement agreement.

Why Fiber Has More Impact on Real Estate Value than Physical Location (atlantech.net)

After construction is complete, we will only periodically need future access, for example, when there is an emergency repair, standard maintenance or an equipment upgrade.

We take every precaution when installing our fiber lines and small equipment. Should we impact any landscape, displace soil, or the like, we will return the area to how we found it, or better.

That should not happen as our lines are placed on the pole well under any high voltage electric lines. In the unlikely event our crews impact electric lines, we will reach out to San Bernard Electric Cooperative (SBEC) immediately for repair.

No. Your easement agreement with San Bernard Electric Cooperative (SBEC) is unaltered by granting an easement to Comcast. Comcast will meet standards and requirements to use SBEC utility poles and apply for any applicable permits.

No. Comcast and SBEC are not affiliates of one another. Each is a separate entity.