As Farmington and Farmington Hills continue their ambitious transformation into a fully connected FiberCity®, one name keeps coming up—John O’Brien.

John isn’t just a liaison between construction crews and city planners—he’s the boots-on-the-ground advocate, the one who takes the heat when lawns get dug up and the first to follow up when repairs need to be made. Now officially joining the Farmington Area FiberCity® Community Relations team, John’s mission is clear: make the transition smooth, make the communication clear, and make the impact long-lasting.

FiberCity®: What It Means and Why It Matters

Unlike traditional internet infrastructure projects that piggyback on old DSL or cable lines, the FiberCity® initiative is a full-scale rebuild of internet infrastructure—laid entirely from scratch. This new underground network will deliver ultra-fast fiber optic internet to every home and business in the community, creating multiple high-speed service options for residents and businesses alike.

Currently, T-Mobile is the leading provider for single-family homes on this network, while Spartanet (formerly Spartan Fiber) and Collectro will serve multi-family housing. These new choices bring long-overdue competition to a space long dominated by limited and often unreliable options like Spectrum or AT&T.

John’s Approach: Real Talk, Real Results

In a recent community Q&A session, John broke down the process in plain language. From the messy trenching stages to the final straw-blanket grass restoration, he assured residents that while the disruption is temporary, the benefits are built to last.

“People would come up to me pretty fired up—‘Hey, you messed up my lawn!’” John shared candidly. “Yes, but fixing it is part of the process. We won’t leave a mess behind—we’re here to improve your service and your property.”

He emphasized that final landscaping is done after all fiber work is complete. The sequence ensures crews aren’t tearing up newly restored yards for finishing touches later on.

Smart City Possibilities on the Horizon

The implications go beyond just fast internet. The FiberCity® backbone lays the groundwork for smart city features: traffic light coordination, temperature sensors for roads, air quality monitors, and more.

“This isn’t just about watching Netflix faster,” John said. “It’s about public safety, infrastructure efficiency, and economic growth.”

Keeping Residents in the Loop

One of John’s biggest points was the 24/7 UK-based call center that logs complaints or questions, which are then handled locally—often by John himself. Whether it’s a sprinkler damaged by drilling or a mysteriously delayed flag removal, he tracks issues, writes tickets, and gets them resolved.

“I’m your advocate. I work with the contractors and make sure they’re accountable. Don’t be afraid to call—I want to help.”

He also provided practical tips—like when to remove those infamous utility flags (after the biodegradable blanket is down and grass hits four inches) and what each stage of the process should look like.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As of now, the project is 50% complete, with construction expected to wrap up by 2026. More neighborhoods are coming online each month. Residents are already reporting better service and significant savings—some switching to T-Mobile Fiber for double the speed at lower prices compared to legacy providers.

John closed the session not with more tech talk, but with heartfelt appreciation:

“Thanks for having me. I’m proud to be part of something that’s really going to change our community for the better.”