Fiber is coming: Seattle City Council strikes down restrictive rule

The Seattle City Council unanimously removed a rule that put heavy restrictions on companies that wanted to implement fiber broadband access in the city.

The so-called “SDOT Director’s Rule” required utility companies to get permission from about 60 percent of nearby neighbors before it could place a telecommunications cabinet that enabled the fiber to work. That high bar made the city an unattractive destination for companies that wanted to offer services in Seattle. Some even suggest it's one of the reasons Google Fiber passed on setting up a service in Seattle. Different neighborhood groups have sprung up to try to get high-speed internet access to underserved areas such as Beacon Hill and the Central District.