Louisiana Senate Committee to give Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans the authority to attach fiber-optic cables to its drainage and water pipe networks

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, May 13, 2005

A bill to give the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans the authority to attach fiber-optic cables to its drainage and water pipe network won quick, unanimous approval from the Louisiana Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs.

Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, said his Senate Bill 289 is needed to let the board piggyback the fiber-optic cable on pipes now being installed along Poydras Street, an addition that would allow the delivery of more digital communication and information. The bill also would give the board the authority to lease out the fiber-optic installation and operation.

The New Orleans City Council already has endorsed the plan, but Murray said state approval is needed.

The fiber-optic cable would be situated inside conduits attached to the sewer and drainage pipes being installed along a 14-block area of the Central Business District, an area bounded roughly by Interstate 10, South Peters Street, Poydras Street, and Common Street.

Murray said the new pipes and fiber optics are needed to enhance the service to many buildings in the area that used to be department stores or office buildings and now are apartments and hotels.