Stantec leads permitting efforts for critical rural Oregon-California-Nevada broadband project with Zayo

Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has spearheaded the crucial federal and state permitting efforts for Zayo Group to build an underground fiber optic middle-mile network between Oregon and Nevada. The 622-mile network will provide affordable broadband internet services to underserved rural areas. 

Prior to Zayo breaking ground on the route, Stantec’s Environmental Services team worked to ensure that the project met permitting requirements under the National Environmental Protection Act and California Environmental Quality Act. Stantec’s environmental experts provided studies that included cultural, biological, botanical, and wetland technical reports. Stantec also led informal tribal consultation with tribes in Oregon and California, including permits and plans required for construction. Currently, Stantec provides comprehensive environmental compliance oversight for the ongoing construction efforts in Oregon and California.

In June 2023, Zayo was the only national provider awarded a $92.9 million federal grant under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Middle Mile Grant Program as part of a national effort to bridge the digital divide in rural America. The grant funds were allocated to three projects, including the Oregon-California-Nevada project. 

“Reliable and affordable broadband is critical for rural communities in Oregon, California, and Nevada, and we’re proud to be able to provide the necessary permitting and technical assistance for Zayo,” said Sara Lindberg, project manager for Stantec. “These are complex projects that involve an array of experts in wildlife, wetlands, archaeology, and tribal relations.”

“Stantec has been an exceptional partner in our Oregon-California-Nevada middle-mile project,” said Troy Lupe, chief network officer for Zayo. “Their expertise in navigating a complex permitting process has helped move the project along smoothly so we can bring broadband to communities across the three states.”

This is the fourth fiber optic project Stantec has provided its permitting expertise to Zayo. The other projects were in central Washington, western and northwestern Oregon, and in the Mount Hood National Forest.

About Zayo
For more than 15 years, Zayo has empowered some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies to connect what’s next for their business. Zayo’s future-ready network spans over 17.5 million fiber miles and 144,000 route miles. Zayo’s tailored connectivity and edge solutions enable carriers, cloud providers, data centers, schools, and enterprises to deliver exceptional experiences, from edge to core to cloud. Discover how Zayo connects what’s next at www.zayo.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Stantec
Stantec empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world’s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before.   

We are a global leader in sustainable architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting. ​

Our professionals deliver the expertise, technology, and innovation communities need to manage aging infrastructure, demographic and population changes, the energy transition, and more. ​

Today’s communities transcend geographic borders. At Stantec, community means everyone with an interest in the work that we do—from our project teams and industry colleagues to our clients and the people our work impacts. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure.  ​

We are designers, engineers, scientists, project managers, and strategic advisors. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.​

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.

Media Contact 
Chris Niskanen             
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: (612) 747-8613       
chris.niskanen@stantec.com