Faster Darien Internet? A 3rd Firm Steps Forward

DARIEN, IL – Darien aldermen heard from an executive this week pushing for yet another fiber optic network that promises to provide faster internet service.

Allen Rauth is a familiar face.

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Thirteen months ago, he advocated for the same service for Darien, but for a different company.

Rauth, now the government affairs director for Ezee Fiber, said his company wants to install fiber optic cable around Darien.

Until a few months ago, he worked for Lumos.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Dan Gombac, the municipal services director, said Lumos is not moving forward with its citywide network, "as far as we know at this point."

He said the city has been emailing Lumos, but the company has been silent.

He said Lumos has connected a small part of Darien, mainly in Ward 6, which includes Home Depot.

The situation, Gombac said, was likely because Lumos and T-Mobile merged.

Another company, Metronet, has also laid fiber optic cable in Darien.

But Gombac said the firm has encountered obstacles with DuPage County in connection with thoroughfares such as Cass Avenue, Plainfield Road and 75th Street.

Metronet has laid cable in two-thirds of the town, but much of it has not gone live yet, according to the city.

"I don't think anyone is going to see it until September," Gombac said.

Alderman Gerry Leganski said yards were dug up in his Ward 4.

"It went pretty smoothly, I have to admit," Leganski said. "But now there's no service because of these issues with the county on Cass and Plainfield. So people are asking me when we are going to have it, and I don't know."

Rauth said Ezee's goal was to have service activated within two to three months after the lines are installed.

He said he had no way to guarantee that would happen, but he pointed to examples elsewhere where Ezee met its goal.

At Monday's meeting, the council approved an agreement with Ezee, as it did last year for Metronet and Lumos.

Like Lumos, Ezee plans to install its cable in rights-of-way in front yards, while Metronet chose backyard utility easements.

At the meeting, Rauth took the opportunity to advertise his new employer's services.

"We have no contracts, no data caps, no hidden fees," he said. "The price you sign up for today is the price you pay for life. The equipment is included as well as the installation."

With more companies providing service, he said, they step up their game with better prices, service and internet speeds.

He promised frequent communications with residents about construction.

He also said his company would focus first on areas where Metronet has not gone.