We've now built fiber to more than 650 homes and connected over 100 homes and business to our new publicly owned, super high-speed network. We've come a long way, but with over 1200 total locations signed up for fiber in the project area, we've still got a ways to go. As of the end of August, we've passed the 60% threshold for registrations in the entire project area. This means that we have both met and exceeded our goals! But it also means any new signups will have to pay $750 for installation.
We are making lots of progress on our fiber buildout. Our PUD line crews continue hanging miles of fiber on power poles, with our contractors burying it underground. We now have fiber from the base of Mt. Walker up to E. Uncas along 101 and past Eaglemount on Center Rd. By the end of July we'll have more than 400 homes with fiber installed to an outside wall.
Fiber construction is now fully underway for the combined Olympic Fiber Corridor and Inbetweens projects. Many miles of fiber are being installed in all parts of Quilcene, as well as parts of Chimacum and Discovery Bay. Work in Gardiner will begin in the next few weeks.
Our engineering design firm continues to map fiber routes in the city. We are currently testing retail business connections at this time and plan to begin construction to registered businesses in late-2024.
We anticipate Jefferson North construction to be underway in the second half of 2024. Contractors have been in the field conducting surveys of more than 100 miles planned fiber. You may see contractors out and about surveying utility poles or plotting underground pathways for fiber to the home.
Engineering for homes in the East Discovery Bay grant area is underway and we expect to be stringing mainline fiber to Discovery Bay zone neighborhoods in summer of 2024, with completion of fiber to the home by the end of 2024.
Expect a flurry of activity across south county in the new year. Our line crews have strung more overhead fiber in and around Quilcene, and we have completed the fiber connection between our Quilcene substation and our Operations Center at 310 Four Corners Rd. In the next few weeks we'll begin splicing together fiber from the Quilcene substation out to the Bolton Peninsula to connect our first homes.
PUD line crews are installing a mile of fiber a day on poles around Quilcene, with more than 25 miles of fiber already in place. The core equipment for our new 10 Gig network is in place and tested. Amazing internet from the PUD is now a reality. But the bulk of connections won't take place until after the new year.
We are still planning to begin construction in the Inbetweens grant area in 2024. Your area saw the strongest wave of signups from the start, and it has kept on strong until the present. We are currently at 55% of available homes and businesses registered. 60% is the goal and it’s the cutoff for free installation. If you know anyone on the fence or out of the loop, make sure to encourage them to sign up now online at: fiber.jeffpud.org,
Read MoreWork on the Jefferson North project will likely not begin until the second half of 2024 at the soonest. Construction will likely extend into 2025. Signups in the Jefferson North area have been strong from the start, so make sure to let any neighbors know that they need to register ASAP if they want to have fiber installed at charge.
Discovery Bay East Fiber Project will not begin until the second half of 2024 at the soonest. At this time we don't have a schedule for when we will be connecting homes, but as soon as we know more, we’ll let you know. However, the smaller size of the Discovery Bay project area means we will continue to look at creative ways to squeeze it in sooner if we can.
We’ve connected several trial customers on our new network, however, before we can connect the rest of the businesses who have signed up, we must complete engineering. We expect to have engineering completed and out to bid next year.
Beginning in 2025, PUD fiber internet is coming to Center & West Valley, Van Trojen, Beaver Valley, Shine, and the entirety of the Toandos Peninsula down to Coyle. Be sure to tell any neighbors who are on the fence to sign up ASAP! Only the first 65% of sign-ups are guaranteed installation at no charge. After the quota is met, it’ll cost $750 per home. Registration is open now online at: fiber.jeffpud.org, or call our customer service team at 360-385-5800 9-4:30 M-F to register over the phone.
PUD line crews are gearing up to hang fiber on power poles running across the Bolton Peninsula beginning in early-July!
Sign-ups in the pink area have been strong from the start, so make sure to let any neighbors know that they need to register ASAP if they want to have fiber installed at no cost. Over 44% of area residents are already on board.
More than 40% of area residents are already on board with PUD Fiber! Register today for no-charge fiber construction to the home before we reach the 60% threshold!
Construction for customers within the Discovery Bay East Project is likely to begin in spring of 2024. Here's the full update.
Read MoreBeginning in 2025, PUD fiber internet is coming to Center & West Valley, Van Trojen, Beaver Valley, Shine, and the entirety of the Toandos Peninsula down to Coyle.
Port Townsend Business Fiber buildout is coming soon and registration is open. PT Fiber is made possible thanks to a super low-interest loan making fiber to the business affordable, with a one-time construction fee of $1200 (which can be spread over a 3-year period in billing). Gig speed-plus packages are available and affordable from your local utility!
Read MoreCouple things to clarify after yesterday's email.
- If you received the email, you are registered for one of our funded areas.
- If you signed up very early (September- December 2022) but did not receive an email, you are still on our list. We had some technical issues and we're working on adding the early sign ups on to the email chain soon.
That question, of course, is when will you get fiber? Right now, we are estimating home (or business) fiber installations will begin in and around Quilcene and Discovery Bay later this summer. It will take over 1 year to connect everyone in the project area. We are not far enough along in planning to say when during that year a specific neighborhood might get connected. We hope to have some of that info in the next few months. In the next few months, we also expect to have better info on when construction will begin in our other funded project areas.
After more than nine months of waiting, the PUD now has signed contracts on all of our grant and loan funded projects. What does that mean for you? It means we can finally begin spending some of the $25M we've been awarded to build fiber to your homes and businesses.