What Lies Beneath
An Analysis of Google Fiber Texas Subcontractors, 311 Municipal Service Logs, and Public Enforcement Data
“Google aspires to be a different kind of company”
“And remember… don’t be evil, and if you see something that you think isn’t right – speak up!”
— Code of Conduct for Alphabet, Google's Parent Company
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46 separate subcontractors
Google Fiber listed at least 46 separate subcontractors on municipal permit data in Austin and San Antonio since 2015
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94 violations and enforcement actions
Nearly one out of every five Google Fiber contractors identified in this analysis have been named by federal regulatory authorities in a combined 94 violations and enforcement actions, 74 of them in Texas.
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29 OSHA violations
Enforcement actions include at least 29 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) violations that have resulted in $227,375 in OSHA penalties, including an estimated $98,636 in penalties connected to violations with documented hospitalizations or fatalities.
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$69,000 TX Railroad Commission penalties
Since 2015, five Google Fiber contractors have been named in 54 separate Texas Railroad Commission enforcement actions, which include $69,000 in penalties.
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65 FLSA violations
These violations also include sixty-five Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) violations where enforcement data indicated Google Fiber subcontractors owed more than $100,228.85 in employee back wages.
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1,406 311 service logs
Between 2015 and 2021, the City of Austin staff generated 1,406 311 service log records referencing Google Fiber, including a 127 percent increase in total 311 service logs since 2019.
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380% increase in “Utility Strike/Damage”
One out of every eight 311 service logs in this analysis was categorized by city staff as “Utility Strike/Damage,” and this analysis finds a 380% increase of this category type from 2018 to 2021.
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Numerous public heath & safety complaints
Other prominent complaints categorized by city staff include “Immediate Public Health & Safety” (114); “Contractor Misconduct” (120); “Cleanup” (274); and “Landscaping Damage” (373).