Disco Bay June Update
Our contractors will begin visiting properties in your project area to conduct site surveys over the coming weeks. While official start of mainline fiber construction has been delayed from June to early September, we’re still moving forward with preparations to bring the fiber to your home.
The first preparation is the aforementioned site survey. This is where our engineering contractors come to your home to map out the route the fiber will take to get to the side of your home.
Our general design principle is to take the shortest path from the road to the side of the house nearest the road. And by side we also generally mean not the front of the house, and the logical place where the fiber will come through the wall to connect to networking equipment inside.
While we always hope the path will be straightforward, trees, patios, septic systems, and flower gardens can get in the way. Hence the reason for the visit. When the engineering contractor is on site, they’ll make time to chat with homeowners and map a route that avoids the obstacles.
DID YOU SAY DELAY EARLIER?
Yes, I did. In news that won’t surprise any of you, we’re a little behind getting this project out to bid. As in life, loose ends are difficult to tie up. Staff now plans to bring the final bid documents for the Discovery Bay East build to the PUD Board of Commissioners on June 17th.
The project will involve two separate bid packages. One for the aerial fiber on the poles, and one for the fiber that goes underground. Because our fiber is placed in what is called the electric zone, we need aerial contractors that are certified to work in the same space as our line crew. Most contractors who install fiber are generally only licensed to work in what is called the comms zone (where phone or cable lines are hung- lower on the pole). We tried to get bids for contractors who can both work in the electric space and build underground fiber back in April but were unsuccessful. This led us to delay our Discovery Bay East Fiber project and combine it with the bids for Jefferson North, both of which are anticipated to be posted on June 18th pending Commissioner approval.
The start of construction lags behind the posting of bids by about two to two and a half months. Contractors need at least a month to prepare the bids, and between bid review, bid award, contract negotiation, and the time it takes a contractor to move their crew into the area, another month to two months is needed before work starts.
SO WHEN DO I GET MY FIBER INTERNET?
Good question, and I wish I could give a definitive answer. But I’ll layout the path. Mainline construction is expected to take about two months. Splicing of fiber and drops (the part where the fiber goes from the street to the home) another month. Installations will take 2-3 weeks. Which means everyone in the project area should be in-service by December.
HOW IS IT GOING ELSEWHERE?
We’re rapidly approaching 500 customers on our new fiber network. Service satisfaction has been very high. Our biggest challenges have been building the service, not delivering it. Constructing 200 miles of fiber to 1400 homes through the most rural part of our county was/is a big job, and we’ve learned a lot. Luckily, the Discovery Bay East project consists of around ten miles of fiber and less than 100 homes.
As always, feel free to reach out with questions.
We’ve updated our rates and products recently. We have increased discounts for customers who qualify for our utility payment assistance plans; lowered the cost of 3/3 Gbps internet service to the home; and simplified our business offerings. More info is available on our website jeffpud.org.
Note: on the PUD’s open access network, you not only have your choice of service, you can choose between service providers, and there is no penalty from the PUD for switching.
-Will O'Donnell
Broadband and Communications Director.