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Council holds first reading of forged fiber franchise; second reading set for Dec. 2

Newcastle City Council · November 19, 2025
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Summary

City staff read the title of an ordinance to approve a nonexclusive franchise with Forged Fiber 37 LLC, describing it as taking over existing AT&T lines and equipment in the right‑of‑way; no action was taken and the ordinance will return for a second reading and adoption.

City Manager Pingle presented the first reading of an ordinance described as approving a nonexclusive franchise with Forged Fiber 37 LLC and read the ordinance title and the proposed number into the record (transcribed as "adoption of ordinance approving a nonexclusive franchise with Forged Fiber 37 LLC; proposed ordinance number is 2 20 25 6 79"). Pingle told the council Forged Fiber is taking over existing AT&T lines and equipment in the city right‑of‑way and that there are no plans to expand the network; because this was a first reading the council took no action beyond the title reading.

Pingle said staff would bring the ordinance back for a second reading and adoption at a subsequent meeting (anticipated Dec. 2). No public testimony or formal deliberation on the ordinance text occurred during the Nov. 18 session.

The council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting; the transcript records the title reading only and indicates a later meeting will include the second reading and adoption.