An agreement between a fiber optic company and the city of Eudora will provide the city $4,000 a year and could offer the community future options for internet, phone and cable TV service.

On Monday, the Eudora City Commission approved a franchise agreement with Kansas Fiber Network that will allow the company, which has offices in Wichita and Overland Park, to bury a fiber optic line through the city along 10th Street. In the agreement, the company agrees to pay the city $4,000 annually for the use of the 10th Street right-of-way.

Bob Wallentine, a representative of Kansas Fiber Network, told commissioners that the company plans to install a fiber optic line from Lenexa to Lawrence, which will pass through Eudora. It will be part of a growing network of fiber optic lines the company has installed in the state.

Wallentine explained to commissioners that the company does not provide residential service, but instead primarily provides high-speed internet to other large internet and telecommunications providers. It also provides direct service to institutional customers, such as hospitals, banks, school districts and universities, he said.

However, Wallentine said a residential service provider could connect to the Kansas Fiber Network line in Eudora to provide local internet, phone and cable TV service.

Eudora Mayor Tim Reazin said that was of interest because residents have requested other service options. Eudora is currently served by Midco, which does offer high-speed gigabit service.

“(Wallentine) indicated if someone was willing to pay them to split off the line to be a local service provider, they would be willing to sell them that service,” Reazin said.

Reazin said Kansas Fiber Network would have to file engineering plans with the city before it could start burying the fiber optic line in Eudora. He did not know when that paperwork would be filed.