Fiber Project
Fiber Project
The interactive map on our homepage shows our tentative plan for fiber availability. You can hover and click on your area or enter your service address to check the status. In addition, please check our website, Facebook page and Penn Lines for future plan information.
We know the time between when construction starts and when services are received can seem like a very long wait. To help you understand what it takes to build a fiber network, here’s a snapshot of the construction process:
Step 1: “Make ready”: This process entails identifying height and clearance issues with existing Claverack-owned poles. If issues are identified, a taller pole is installed, or wires are rearranged.
Step 2: Mainline fiber construction: Our contracted construction crews (Henkels & McCoy) will attach miles of fiber-optic cables to our utility poles. The cables connect to our internet backbone which makes internet connectivity possible.
Step 3: Installing “drops”: A “drop” is the fiber-optic cable that runs from the mainline fiber to your house. Once this fiber is installed and spliced to the mainline fiber, your home is connected to Revolution Broadband’s network. (If your electric service runs underground, so will your fiber-optic cable. Conversely, if your electric service runs overhead, the fiber-optic cable will also be installed overhead.) This step also includes the placement of a Network Interface Device (NID) on the outside of your house.
Step 4: Home installation and activation: We’ll bring the outside fiber-optic cable into your house and install the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and fiber gateway (modem and router). Then we will activate your service.
Step 5: Testing: We will test the connection to ensure we are delivering what we’ve promised.
This process takes about six to nine months per substation area. That’s why the project will span five to six years. We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to bring you the area’s fastest, most reliable internet. To register your interest in Revolution Broadband, click here. We can’t wait to connect with you!
Constructing a fiber network is a complex and often challenging project, but we are working as quickly as we can. There are many entities involved – people from Claverack, townships and the state, as well as contractors and vendors who supply the needed equipment, hardware and software. Weather delays and supply-chain issues may occur, so please be patient with us.
Our plan is to build out approximately 300 miles of fiber-optic cable each year, and we’ll ultimately pass more than 8000 homes.
In short, some homes near the construction zone won’t be offered service due to the funding designations. We’ve received funding from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). This is an FCC initiative designed to provide funding for the construction and operation of rural broadband networks. The FCC designates which “blocks” are eligible for the funding and where we can install fiber-optic cables. Unfortunately, not all member areas are included in these “blocks.”
A drop is the first step in installing fiber to a home. A fiber-optic cable is “dropped” from the mainline fiber to the home. This “drop” will typically follow the same path as your electric service drop. If your electric service runs underground, so will your fiber optic cable. If your electric service is overhead, the fiber optic cable will run overhead.
Our goal is to serve members who don’t already have access to affordable high-speed internet service. The current funding we have received is not adequate to provide service to all of our unserved and underserved members, but it’s a great start. We will continue to explore additional funding opportunities in the hopes we can one day provide internet service to these members.