LightSpeed Network is the newest telecommunications company in Umatilla, although the company provides no direct service to residential customers.

Tuesday, the Umatilla City Council unanimously approved a franchise agreement with the Portland-based company.

LSN representative Robin Smith said the company was founded in 2005 by a group of rural electrical cooperatives in Oregon and serves large customers, such as school districts and ports.

“We own the largest (fiber optic) backbone in the state of Oregon, but we’re a company you’ve never heard of because we don’t go the final mile to your house. We don’t go to your small business,” she said.

In Umatilla, LSN will provide fiber optic service to Verizon Wireless.

With the rush for 4G, there’s a need for better fiber optics and equipment to towers, Smith said. We’re here to bring faster, better broadband and 4G.

In other business:

The council approved an amendment to the city’s franchise ordinance setting franchise fees at 7 percent.

Council members authorized Mayor Pat Lafferty to sign amendments to the Safe Routes to School project agreement as long as the changes did not affect the cost of the project.

The Umatilla Police Department presented on training and employee roles.

Miguel Villarreal was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Committee; and Boyd Sharp was appointed to the Budget Committee.

Shauna LaDues resigned from the Library Board.