Future of Berkeley’s Sonic Internet Services uncertain
As PG&E moves its power lines underground, other companies that use the company’s poles to provide internet service are being forced to adjust.
Berkeley, California – As PG&E moves its power lines underground, other companies that use the company’s poles to provide internet service are being forced to adjust.
In the Grizzly Peak neighborhood of the Berkeley Hills, PG&E has already begun burying power lines underground. Work began last summer, and residents can see where trenches have been dug and repairs have been made.
“Obviously, it’s a good idea. It’ll make the neighborhood a lot safer,” homeowner Alan Bullock said.
Burying power lines is something area residents have called for for decades to reduce the risk of wildfires, and Bullock took video and photos of the trenching work being done on his street to prepare the lines for burying.
But other companies, including AT&T, Comcast and Sonic, also use these poles and pay PG&E to string their own wires, and now that the poles are slated for removal, they will also need to relocate their wires.
Last week, internet service provider Sonic informed about 130 customers in the nearby area that it had not been able to come to an agreement with PG&E to relocate the lines in an economically feasible way. As a result, Sonic said it would cut off service in the area by the end of next month.
“It’s terrible. It’s terrible. Sonic is the best thing that’s ever happened to the internet in this region. Other companies don’t seem to care,” Block said.
Berkeley City Councilwoman Susan Wengraf said her constituents are “panic because they love the service that Sonic provides.”
Wengraf and utility staff spoke with representatives from PG&E and Sonic, and agreed to leave the poles in place while negotiations continued, continuing service to the neighborhood through April.
“I’m hopeful because there are really good people working together right now to find a solution,” Wengraf said.
“We continue to coordinate with all stakeholders, including the City of Berkeley, to complete this project, and we look forward to a solution the carrier and the City of Berkeley can reach for our customers and residents,” PG&E said in a statement.
Sonic did not comment by deadline, but the company told Wengraf it was interested in digging its own trenches to lay fiber-optic lines and continue service.
“I don’t know how they’re going to do it or how complicated it’s going to be, but I hope they do it because we want to keep Sonic,” Bullock said.
Such problems could emerge in other cities and towns across Northern California, where PG&E has committed to putting about 10,000 miles of transmission lines underground over the next few years.
