Gigapower’s Arizona fiber rollout linked to infrastructure damage, CWA report says
A recent report by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) highlights concerns about the broadband deployment practices of Gigapower, a joint venture between AT&T and BlackRock.
The findings come as Phoenix considers a licensing agreement with the company, which has faced scrutiny over its use of contractors for critical infrastructure projects.
The report, titled The Gigapower Gamble: How AT&T and BlackRock are Undermining Broadband Quality, Safety, and Jobs in Arizona, alleges that Gigapower relies on non-union subcontractors, leading to inadequate training and a higher incidence of safety violations. Unlike AT&T’s traditional operations, which employ a trained, union-represented workforce, Gigapower reportedly outsources work to firms with less oversight.
“AT&T’s decision to partner with BlackRock and use a web of non-union contractors is undercutting wages and working conditions negotiated over decades by the company’s union-represented workforce,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. He criticized the practice, calling it a “race to the bottom” that prioritizes cost-cutting over quality and safety.
CWA also raised alarms about the safety record of Gigapower’s contractors. In Mesa, Arizona, where Gigapower began fiber deployment in early 2023, subcontractors have reportedly caused over 40 underground utility hits, including damages to electric, gas, water, and telecommunications lines, totaling more than $135,000 in repairs.
“Fiber deployment requires dangerous and technical construction work... near critical infrastructure such as gas and electrical lines,” noted CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister, emphasizing the risks involved.
Gigapower has not publicly responded to the report’s claims. As Phoenix and other municipalities evaluate their partnerships with broadband providers, CWA’s findings underscore the debate over labor practices and infrastructure safety in large-scale fiber projects.
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