Franklin officials are addressing cable pollution after a study by a Bargersville firm identified nearly 1,300 issues.
Natasha Mershon, founder and CEO of Masters Elite Group Corp., recently updated the Franklin City Council on the firm’s study of cable pollution in the city.
Mershon said previously cable pollution is present all over Franklin, across Johnson County and the state. It manifests in cables dangling from telephone poles, cables that are improperly secured to poles, cables that are left in yards after the homeowner changes internet or cable TV providers and more.
Often, companies leave behind a mess after they lay new cables underground. Additionally, the contractors telecommunications companies hire often don’t repair yards and city streets properly, which leaves homeowners and the city on the hook for repairs. The contractors have also often bored through other utility lines, typically for gas or sewer, because they failed to properly locate existing lines, she said previously.
“It is common occurrence,” Mershon said. “You see poles that are cracked and busted with cables hanging down.”
The idea for the study came from a meeting last year among city and town officials from around Johnson County who are all concerned about the issue. The study, which costs $60,000, began in September 2023 after Mayor Steve Barnett brought the issue of cable pollution and the need to address it to the city council.
Since the study began, Masters Elite Group Corp. has identified 936 issues related to aerial and overhead telecommunication cables. Currently, 37% of those issues have been resolved, Mershon said.
Of those issues, 387 are attributed to Comcast, 262 to Brightspeed and 203 to Metronet. The issues were largely found on telecommunication poles in Franklin owned by Duke Energy, she said.
Mershon cited specific overhead cable issues including those at Mallory Parkway and County Road East 150 South in Franklin.
The firm also found many problems related to ground-level and underground utility infrastructure, including instances of collapsed manholes, which can be particularly dangerous to children.
The study identified 378 issues related to telecommunication cables at ground facilities. Currently, 19% of those issues have been resolved, Mershon said. She pointed out examples that were found on Arvin Road, Southpointe Drive and Hurricane Road.
Four issues related to underground telecommunication cables were found, and all of which have been resolved, she said. One instance of an underground issue was found near Hurricane Road where Verizon cut through an old water line and bored through a newer water line, Mayor Steve Barnett said.
Mastes is not just finding cable pollution, but also helping get companies to clean it up and giving city officials best practices for working with companies to keep the city clean thereafter.
“We’ve had sit downs with Comcast government affairs, we have had sit downs with Brightspeed, Verizon, AT&T to discuss plans of action about how to resolve these issues,” Mershon said. “Our goal is to support our community and make it a better place to live. As we work on this project, we are also working with telecommunication companies, Duke Energy and big and small businesses.”
Community involvement remains crucial in addressing line pollution, said Mershon. She encourages residents to report any observed issues.
At least one concern raised by a community member prompted immediate action — the replacement of a deteriorating telephone pole behind the Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce. The pole had been standing there since 1951 without replacement, she said.
The study is still ongoing and community members are encouraged to report any cable pollution they see by texting or calling 317-883-9840.
“We still have crews out on the ground doing more audits,” Mershon said. “We have a map system that identifies all of the problems and we have shared it with all of the telecommunication companies. It is making a lot of headway.”
After the study is complete, another goal is to present the idea of adding new regulations for utility companies to state legislators. Franklin has taken the step to do the study, the hope is that lawmakers will take the mission to clean up cable pollution statewide with a bill, Mershon and Barnett previously said.
“I don’t know what’s going to come out of it. All I know is I want to make our legislators aware,” Barnett said in September. “And I want to give them the opportunity to try to help fix this and give what our communities what we need out of these companies.”
