Homeowners have little control over what goes into those easements, where utilities have the right to go in at any time to replace, repair and inspect equipment. So if a property owner has a fence, or a building, or a planting in the easement, they have it there "at their own risk,” he said.

Those in charge of utilities have said they do not want to disturb what people have in those easement areas, if they can avoid it. And all have expressed the intent to contact a landowner if something there will be disturbed, he said.

To the extent a utility damages homeowner property in the easement, the utility has no legal obligation to repair, replace or do anything, Huggenberger explained. However, virtually every company has said it will be responsible for the damage when it works in an easement, Huggenberger said.

Some Allo fiber may go in rights-of-way, areas on private property between the street and the sidewalk. The city owns this area and utilities must get permission from the city to work in a right-of-way, Huggenberger said.

Some residents in Allo’s path last year were philosophical about the mess progress can create.