It can feel like a lifetime when you are waiting for something you really want to experience, especially when you know someone else already has it and really enjoys it. We understand, and promise your fiber optic Internet and telephone service will be worth the wait.
here’s a glimpse at why your patience is appreciated and necessary
Timing is everything.
Our goal is to bring you Green Hills Fiber service as quickly as possible. However, a lot of things impact our timing. This article explains what we do before we install Green Hills Fiber in your home. It also explains why sometimes things can take a bit longer than we originally anticipated.
Building new networks takes time.
- Underground Investigations. Before we can begin, we spend a lot of time developing a construction plan for your community and working with local authorities on permitting and other issues. There’s a lot of designing, engineering and staking work to be done. Before we can lay the fiber in the ground or bring in construction equipment such as boring machines, we have to figure out where the existing underground utilities are – wires, pipes, water lines, and so on. We follow the required process for marking the locations (“locates”) where each utility is supposed to be. This helps our construction crews when they are digging. You might see orange, blue, red or yellow paint (or flags) on the sidewalks, streets, or even on the grass. Those are locating marks.
- Private property access rights must be acquired. Through state or local government issuances, we obtain the right to build our network in public right-of-ways and easements in a particular jurisdiction. Where applicable, we have to separately secure rights to construct on private property, such as in a multi-family building, in a gated community, or across a private road.
- Weather & daylight play a big part in timing. Even under the best circumstances, some things can slow us down that are out of our control, such as weather and daylight. We still work outside when the weather doesn’t cooperate, but heavy rain or snow, freezing cold temperatures, or ice will bring everything to a stop or slow down – including fiber network construction. Additionally, sometimes there is just not enough daylight. Construction permits are usually only valid for certain days of the week and may limit times of the day crews can work. We might have enough crews to work longer days or over the weekends, but we must comply with the local restrictions. This can be very frustrating when occasionally one or two homes on a street don’t get installed until days or weeks after the rest of the street is installed. We wish we could prepare for every unexpected obstacle but sometimes there are unique conditions that affect our ability to install Green Hills fiber, and your patience is always appreciated.
frequently asked questions
UNDERSTANDING FIBER
What does Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) mean?
Fiber-to-the- home (FTTH) is a broadband delivery model that extends fiber-optic cables all the way to the homes and businesses. These cables are made up of hundred or thousands of fiber optics, which are long strands of pure glass about the diameter of a human hair and are designed to trap and transmit light pulses.
Why is fiber better than what I currently have?
Unlike copper or coaxial, fiber has a higher bandwidth capacity and can carry data for great distances without signal loss or interference – with plenty of capacity left over for future services. In addition to virtually unlimited bandwidth, fiber is more durable, less susceptible to inclement weather and if damaged, it is significantly less expensive to repair than copper wire.
What is the difference in Internet speeds?
Internet speed is measured by how much data you can access per second. Slow network connections are measured in kilobits (think dial up days of 56k Internet service). High speed internet is measured in megabits per second and super fast internet is measured in gigabits (achieved through fiber optic connections).
– 1 megabit per second equals 1,000 kilobits per second = Normal High Speed Internet
– 1 gigabit per second equals 1,000 megabits per second = Super Fast Fiber Internet
How much Internet speed your household requires depends on factors such as: 1.) the # of people in your household; 2.) the # of internet-enabled devices in your household; 3.) how often you use each device; and 4.) how often your household streams videos or plays online games simultaneously on multiple devices.
For example, anything above 25 Mbps is considered usable Internet for one user streaming TV services on one device, however speeds below 100 Mpbs may be challenging for larger households with multiple family members trying to stream services on multiple devices. On the other hand, subscribing to 1 Gbps of Internet service will provide even the most high tech Internet consuming household with plenty of bandwidth to keep everyone streaming peacefully.
If you need help calculating your homes required bandwidth, give us a call at 660-644-5411.
FIBERHOOD INSTALLATION STAGE
Why is the fiber network buried underground?
Buried fiber is protected from elements such as fire, windstorms, and ice storms. It provides a much more reliable network for our customers.
BE SAFE – CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG. As always, it is important to call 811 at least a few days before you start any digging project. This allows utility companies to safely locate underground wires, pipes and lines which is not only a way to eliminate service disruptions, serious injuries and costly repairs – it is also the law!
Will the process of burying fiber disturb my yard or property?
We’ll do everything we can to make sure any disturbance is minimized and the original condition of your property is restored as promptly as possible.
What equipment will be installed on my home?
We’ll install a Network Interface Device (NID) on the outside of your home which contains electronics that convert the fiber signal into usable internet and telephone signals.
Inside your home we can install our Green Hills WiFi Solution that provides fast, reliable, wireless fiber Internet throughout your entire home.