Owners left infuriated after county installed feature in front yards

Jefferson County officials had installed broadband utility boxes in locals' homes
Some residents say they feel violated that this was done without permission

Long-term Colorado homeowners have been left enraged after utility boxes for broadband were installed in their front yards, without their permission.

Residents of Kipling Villas in Jefferson County were caught by surprise when they saw several people digging up their yards and installing utility boxes for BAM Broadband, formerly known as DirectLink, into the holes in the ground.

Michael Clarkson, who bought his parents house in the area in 1976, described the entire process as 'very violating.'

'We can't get our county, who's usually really responsive, to act on this,' he told ABC7.

But officials argue that the residents had been informed of the setup and said there was a permit between the county and company that allowed the installation.

In February, the Kipling Villas Home Owners Association published its monthly newsletter that read: 'Why is there a box in my yard? About every other house will have an access box in their yard. This box is necessary to access and bring fiber internet to your home.'

The Jefferson County's website also reads: 'As a Jefferson County resident, you may be wondering why crews are installing fiber in your area.

'The Colorado General Assembly has deemed the regulation of broadband a matter of statewide concern and limited the ability of local governments to regulate the location of broadband in the local rights-of-way.

'Under this legislation, broadband providers are provided the authority to locate in public rights-of-way.'

But residents do not believe that their yards disrupted by the installations constitute as 'rights-of-way.'

One resident told the channel, 'For me, this is as much about liability as much as is about our community as a whole.

'Because here's the thing, one company comes and does this, and it's OK. Five, six, more will follow.'

Clarkson later said that after weeks of complaining, the box in his yard has been removed but others remain.

BAM Broadband has yet not commented on the complaints.