Fiber to the Premise (FTTP)
WHAT’S ALL THE COMMOTION?
TBTC is doing some major upgrading we are bringing new fiber optic cable service to your neighborhood! Typically, this service is offered only in the largest of cities, but TBTC is beginning construction to bring you super fast solutions for your home and business. We are delighted to be able to bring you access to high-speed internet, video and voice services. This new fiber optic system is the best transmission medium to deliver these services to you today and for many years to come.
We know you have a few questions. These are the most Frequently Asked Questions about this project. Over the course of the next few months, we will continue to keep you informed and up to date. In the meantime, please remember we welcome any other questions or concerns you might have.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. Why all the fuss?
A. TBTC is committed to providing our customers with new products and services – so we can all keep connected as technology changes. Upgrading our network means you will have the option to receive state-of-the-art voice, data and future video services. You won’t have to imagine crystal clear voice services, with all the bells and whistles. Access to super high-speed internet won’t be a dream any longer. And future video offerings (including digital TV, local channels, premium channels, high definition channels, and movies on-demand, just to name a few) will be within easy reach.
Q. What is this going to cost me?
A. TBTC will shoulder the expenses for this upgrade – we are making this multi-million dollar investment in our network to better serve you! You won’t be charged a penny for these upgrades. There will be no cost to you as we upgrade our facilities to your location. We will send you more information about the prices of the optional new products and services offered once the enhanced network is in place.
Q. Are my telephone rates going to increase?
A. TBTC does not plan to increase rates at this time. We will send you more information about the prices of the optional new products and services offered once the enhanced network is in place.
Q. What can I expect?
A. You can expect some construction activity in your neighborhood and, in some instances, on your property. Neighborhood construction includes placement of new cable (overhead and/or underground). TBTC will also need to place fiber optic cable along the streets and highways. If construction on your personal property is necessary, it will be tailored to best suit your needs. You can expect to get a more comprehensive look at what sort of construction activity your home or business may require when our on-site crew is in your area. This on-site assessment will determine the best location options for the placement of new equipment that will need to be attached to your building in order to provide you access to the fiber optic network. We will also be able to let you know if your home or business requires a new buried or aerial cable to get access to the new network.
Q. What’s the difference between having fiber-optic or copper wiring to my house?
A. Not much! At least not in terms of the quality of service you’ll get from TBTC. Both copper wire and fiber optic cable are capable of handling the speeds and data you can expect from a state-of-the-art network. So many different factors determine whether or not your location will have copper or fiber ultimately serving your location, but which ever one ends up connecting your home or business to our network you can count on superior quality.
Q. What should I expect if my location gets served by copper wire?
A. You should still expect some construction in your neighborhood, but you won’t have to worry about TBTC doing any construction on your property. You also won’t have to worry about any new wiring on your premises for your current TBTC services. Of course, we’ll let you know as soon as the network has been upgraded and the new services are available…and we’ll make sure that we don’t disturb or inconvenience you in the meantime.
Q. What happens if my property requires fiber optic cable?
A. Your property will require more attention. What kind of attention, you ask? Well, it will require some construction and perhaps some re-wiring. Again, we’ll be able to give you a more comprehensive idea after the on-site assessment. Below are answers to many of the questions you might have about what TBTC will do in order to place the fiber optic cable to your home or business.
Q. Will you need access to the inside of my home or business?
A. Yes, if your location will be served with fiber optic cable. This new technology requires an electrical power source for its electronic components. TBTC will provide an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) or battery back-up to guard against power failure. There is a chance that you will need a new wire run to your modem for high-speed internet access, which will require special installation. We will be sure to let you know all of your options before the installation.
Q. Who will be doing the construction and work at my house?
A. TBTC company personnel and contract construction crews will be doing the network upgrades.
Q. When does construction start?
A. TBTC plans to begin construction activity in Cloudcroft, High Rolls and surrounding communities late August or early September. You will receive additional information from TBTC at least 30 days prior to construction in your area. Construction in TBTC’s other exchange areas (Tularosa and Carrizozo) will begin after the Cloudcroft/High Rolls exchange area is completed.
Q. When will all the construction be completed?
A. We anticipate a construction time table that looks like this:
· Cloudcroft Exchange – by the end of 2006, mid-year 2007
· Tularosa Exchange – by the end of 2007, early 2008
· Carrizozo Exchange – by the end of 2008
Of course, we’ve built a little extra time into our schedule to accommodate those unanticipated challenges and construction hiccups that sometimes happen…but if all goes smoothly, you’ll have access to our upgraded network even sooner!
Q. What determines if I will have a fiber optic cable to my location (house or business) or to my neighborhood?
A. Many factors determine what type of cable will be installed at your location, including the age and condition of the existing copper cable, the distance from your location to our switching equipment, and engineering and construction specifications. Whether or not you’ll be served on a network consisting of 100% fiber optic cables or a combination of fiber optic and copper cables will depend on those factors.
Q. Will customers with 100% fiber optic cables to their location get more service offerings?
A. No. TBTC uses the same equipment to provide services over both fiber optic and fiber optic/copper cables. You’ll have the same access to optional service no matter what type of cable connects your location to the network.
Q. Why is an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) required?
A. Locations with 100% fiber optic cables require a UPS because there will no longer be copper wires to carry low-voltage power from our equipment to your telephone equipment. In the past, your telephone service continued to work during electrical power outages because the low-voltage power originating from our equipment was carried over the copper wires. Because fiber optic cables cannot carry electric current, you will need a UPS to provide backup power in the event of an electrical power outage. The UPS will also provide low-voltage power to the electronic components we will install on the side of your building.
Q. How much power does the UPS consume?
A. The manufacturer estimates power consumption (for 30 days at 24 hours per day of continuous heavy load) to be 8.64 KW and would cost less than 61 cents. Based on current rates, monthly power consumption for a typical household is expected to be less than this estimate. Actual power consumption will vary based on actual usage.
Q. How long will the UPS continue to enable telephone service in the event of an electrical power outage?
A. For between 8 – 10 hours.
Q. When will video services be available?
A. TBTC anticipates that video services will be available sometime during 2007.
Q. What Internet speeds will be available on the new fiber optic network?
A. Tularosa Communications, Inc. (TCI) currently provides high-speed internet (also known as DSL) with download speeds ranging from 384 kbps to 1,500 kbps. TCI anticipates offering even faster download speeds once the fiber optic network is complete.
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