PITTSFIELD — Near the intersection of Livingston and Dawes avenues sits what looks like a giant spool of orange thread.

Up and down Livingston, the installation of new fiber optic cables is in full swing. The orange cables snake across lawns and jut out of freshly dug earth, while workers from White Mountain Cable Construction are in holes up to their shoulders as they prepare to place more lines.

New fiber optic cables are installed on Livingston Avenue on Wednesday by Gateway Fiber, the city's newest underground fiber optic internet provider.

The street is part of the latest neighborhood in Pittsfield to receive a new fiber optic internet option. Gateway Fiber, the third company permitted to install underground fiber optic cables in the city, is the newest provider.

Gateway Fiber will join Archtop Fiber and Access Plus in providing the service.

Fiber optic cables provide customers with faster internet speeds and more reliable connections compared to above-ground cable systems. But the process to install them is intense, requiring workers to bore into parts of the ground to place the cables.

Matthew Wrinn, the city’s Ward 3 councilor, said he’s heard constituent responses to the ongoing work ranging from positive to indifferent, with a few complaints mixed in.

New fiber optic cables are installed on Livingston Avenue in Pittsfield by Gateway Fiber, the city's newest underground fiber optic internet provider. Gateway Fiber is the third company permitted to install underground fiber optic cables in the city.

“I get mixed views,” he said. “A lot of people are really happy, and a lot of people could care less.”

In his own experience having the cables installed near his house, Wrinn said the contracting company was very receptive to feedback. Once the cables are in, he plans to switch to fiber optic internet for its ability to support more devices at higher speeds.

In March, the City Council voted to allow Gateway Fiber to install the underground cable systems. At that time, construction plans from the company said the installation would take place in wards 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and 5A — which includes parts of downtown and southeast Pittsfield.

The company had previously received approval in September to install above-ground fiber optic cables.

Company representatives from Gateway Fiber could not be reached for comment.

Lawrence “Mike” Whitman, a resident on Livingston Avenue, said the construction work that began on his street earlier this week hasn’t been a nuisance.

“They seem to be doing a minimal amount of disruption,” he said. And once the new internet service is up, “The odds are pretty good I will probably switch.” He said the primary incentive would be to save money, since his family doesn’t mind how fast their internet is.

Other residents are content to rely on their existing internet services.

“I’ve got T-Mobile,” said Nan Bookless, who also lives on Livingston Avenue. “It’s a really good price … so far, I’ve been happy.”