Round Valley Indian Tribes: Broadband Projects

FFA Last Mile Overview

RVIT also received a  Federal Fiscal Account (FFA) Last Mile Project grant to install approximately 78 miles of new fiber for high-speed broadband by running 144 fiber strands to approximately 441 homes, 22 businesses and anchor institutions throughout the Covelo community. The project will interconnect with the SB-156 Middle Mile initiative, establishing a critical fiber connection at State Route 162 at the southernmost end of Covelo to the endpoint at Hidden Oaks Casino. From there, the RVIT FFA fiber route will connect and extend north along State Route 162, passing through Covelo. The project will be placing fiber along most roads within Covelo in order to provide service to the homes and anchor institutions.

It is expected the Project would require easements from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the County of Mendocino Department of Transportation because the fiber optic cable would be installed underground along county- and state-maintained roads. Additional easements would be required from allotment holders and private landowners, as well as the BIA and the RVIT.

Why Easements Are Required

Since many of the county roads along the project route are not fully dedicated rights-of-way but instead prescriptive in nature, the project cannot rely on those corridors alone for fiber installation.

• Dedicated Right-of-Way: A dedicated right-of-way is formally granted and recorded, giving the public (and utility providers) a clear, legal right to use the land for transportation and infrastructure.
• Prescriptive Right-of-Way: A prescriptive right-of-way exists because of long-term, continuous public use but is not formally dedicated or recorded. This creates uncertainty, as utilities do not automatically have legal authority to place infrastructure there.

Because of this difference, private easements must be obtained to ensure the fiber line has secure, legal access for construction and long-term maintenance.

Identification of Easement Needs

As part of the fiber line project, Paragon conducted a review of the proposed route and determined where the line will cross or run along private property. Through this review, they identified approximately 280 parcels that will require easements from private landowners to legally establish the right-of-way for the fiber line. This ensures the project has the necessary legal access to place and maintain infrastructure without future disputes.

Outreach to Property Owners

To begin the easement acquisition process, Introductory Letters are being sent to all affected landowners. These communications explain the project, why the easement is needed, and what landowners can expect moving forward. This step is essential to ensure transparency and build cooperation with the community.

Survey & Field Work

Survey crews are actively conducting fieldwork along the identified parcels. The crews are gathering all the technical data needed—such as boundary information, existing utility locations, and property features—to support the legal documentation. This data collection is critical for producing accurate plats and descriptions of the easement areas.

Legal Documentation

Paragon will prepare an easement document with the  plat and legal description for each parcel requiring an easement. These documents form the basis of the official easement agreements that will be presented to property owners for review and signature. Having precise legal descriptions ensures that the easements are properly recorded and enforceable.

Contact Us

Questions about the project can be directed to Kelly Jackson.

Kelly Jackson
Permitting Specialist, EnerTribe
kelly.jackson@enertribe.com