Illinois village halts fiber construction after utility strikes, safety complaints
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (UI) — Village officials in Orland Park have ordered internet service providers to halt fiber-optic construction after a wave of resident complaints and a recent utility strike that knocked out power to hundreds of homes.
The stop-work order followed a Dec. 8 incident linked to Astound that disrupted electric service to about 300 residences and resulted in a municipal ordinance citation, village officials said. Astound, along with Abovenet (Zayo Group) and other state-authorized providers, was directed to suspend work until safety, restoration and compliance issues are resolved.
“Everyone wants better internet, but it needs to be done the right way,” Mayor Jim Dodge said. “If a company is digging in front of your home, they should knock on your door, provide their contact information, and repair anything they damage—no excuses.”
Village officials said permits will be withheld from any provider with unresolved property damage, utility strikes, unfinished restoration, work conducted outside permitted hours, or subcontractors operating without proper identification.
Public Works Director Joel Van Essen said the village has seen a rise in complaints tied to underground fiber installation activity.
“We’ve seen a rise in citizen complaints and the Village takes seriously its responsibility to ensure construction in Orland Park meets our rigorous standards,” Van Essen said. “We remain committed to ensuring our roadways, sidewalks, and utilities remain accessible and in good repair and we will continue to work with state-authorized providers to resolve issues, including those related to underground facility damages.”
Under Illinois law, municipalities have limited authority over state-authorized internet providers. While Orland Park cannot prohibit fiber installation outright, officials said they are tightening local enforcement through expanded fines, stricter notification requirements and limits on the number of active work zones allowed at one time.
New rules require providers to notify residents in advance of construction, clearly identify contractor vehicles, restore all disturbed areas promptly and comply with expanded safety protocols. Companies that fail to meet the standards may face stop-work orders until full compliance is demonstrated.
“Fiber broadband is essential for our Village’s future,” Dodge said. “We want private companies to invest in broadband infrastructure and expand local options, but not at the expense of our residents’ quality of life.”
Village officials said construction activity tied to Illinois’ Connect Illinois broadband expansion program has increased sharply in recent years, driving a surge in underground utility work across residential neighborhoods.
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