Gigapower's Troubled Expansion: Worker Safety and Community Risks

As Gigapower, the joint fiber venture launched by AT&T and BlackRock, continues to expand its footprint across the country, a new report from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has raised serious concerns about the safety and quality of its operations. The report, titled "Gigapower’s Chandler Conundrum," highlights numerous operational challenges in Chandler, Arizona, including disturbances, delays, and dismissals that have put workers and communities at risk.

The report documents how poor contractor selection, substandard field supervision, and questionable project management practices have led to damage to critical utility infrastructure and work stoppages over public safety concerns. Gigapower is currently facing a lawsuit from Tilson Technology Management, its former prime contractor in several states, for an alleged breach of contract. Tilson has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, potentially jeopardizing Gigapower’s on-time Arizona market buildout and leaving hundreds of workers and dozens of small businesses in limbo.

The CWA report, based on an analysis of public records and field investigations, reveals that unlicensed and unregistered subcontractors are performing work prohibited by City code. The report also highlights poor oversight and quality control, which may undermine high-quality fiber deployment workforce standards and endanger workers and the community. The findings suggest that these issues are not isolated to one project but may be systemic, reflecting the company’s structure and business model.

Fernando Roman, CWA District 7 campaign lead and a broadband technician with 25 years of experience, commented, "I believe we are witnessing in real-time how Gigapower’s dangerous, corner-cutting business model endangers workers and dismantles local telecommunication careers in cities like Chandler, Arizona. This is why highly trained, union broadband technicians have continuously raised the alarm over this dangerous partnership. Policymakers and investors must take action to ensure Gigapower’s fiber deployments support good jobs and protect communities."

The report builds on a previous CWA analysis from 2024, which exposed how Gigapower’s reliance on inadequately trained, non-union contractors and substandard workforce oversight contributed to $135,000 in damage to the Mesa, Arizona, area. This damage impacted work quality, worker safety, and public safety, underscoring the broader risks associated with Gigapower’s operations.

The CWA report includes recommendations for policymakers and investors to address these issues. These recommendations include requiring Gigapower to present a robust and detailed Workforce Plan, executing agreements to create a standardized system for authorizing the terms and conditions for use of the rights of way, committing to an oversight process, and scrutinizing workforce practices for potential investment risk factors.

In conclusion, the CWA report highlights the urgent need for action to ensure that Gigapower’s fiber deployments support good jobs, protect communities, and provide long-term value creation. The findings underscore the risks associated with Gigapower’s current operational challenges and legal issues, and the need for policymakers and investors to take proactive measures to address these concerns.