Have Fiber Questions?
1. When do they start or finish?
Answer: Our TARGET is to complete within one year and we started as
soon as the grant was awarded. However, we must be aware that supply
chain delays completely out of the Town's and Axiom's control may delay
construction. Currently we hope to be completely up and running before
the end of 2024.
2. Will I have to pay anything especially if I have underground
services?
Answer: NO!
1. All drops and installations will be provided free of charge for at
least the first year of established service.
2. Underground conduit installations will be provided at no charge,
provided that existing conduit can be used.
3. When can we sign up?
Answer: Today, if you'd like! The www.connectwithaxiom.com
site will provide information about Axiom.
Please signup with Axiom at
207-255-0679.
4. What does it cost?
Answer: The following rates include no hidden charges, such
as added costs for federal/state/local taxes, "broadcast fees," sporting
events, or exceeding data caps (we have NO data cap).
Supplied with the installation is a modem with two ethernet ports (one for
broadband, one for VOIP telephone). An ethernet cable connects the
broadband port to your computer.
There is a monthly charge of $7.50 for a wifi router (if desired), or a
customer may purchase one online, at Best Buy, Staples, or a similar
store.
Rate Groups |
Year Round |
Seasonal |
50/50Mbps |
$59.99/month |
$59.99/month between May 1 and November 1.
$20/month in 6 month off-season.
$30 month for 6 month off-season plus minimal
service for utility
maintenance (furnace and burglar alarms,remote access etc.) |
100/100Mbps |
$79.99/month |
$79.99/month between May 1 and November 1.
$20/month in 6 month off-season.
$30 month for 6 month off-season plus minimal
service for utility
maintenance (furnace and burglar alarms, remote access etc.) |
500/500Mbps |
$109.99/month |
$109.99/month between May 1 and No
$20/month in 6 month off-season
$30 month for 6 month off-season plus minimal
service for utility
maintenance (furnace and burglar alarms, remote access etc.) |
1000/1000Mbps |
$139.99/month |
$139.99/month between May 1 and No
$20/month in 6 month off-season
$30 month for 6 month off-season plus minimal
service for utility
maintenance (furnace and burglar alarms, remote access etc.) |
Now
for some general questions about Broadband service:
What
is Broadband?
ANSWER:
Broadband is a capacity/speed standard that is established for the
internet. The FCC establishes that baseline and states may set their own.
In Maine broadband is 100mbps download and 100mbps Upload – symmetrical
service. The FCC broadband standard is currently 25/3 though there is an
effort by some members of congress - Led by Senator Angus King (in part) -
to get the FCC to increase it to 100/100.
What changed from last year to make this happen?
ANSWER: , COVID19 and the
financial incentivization of broadband from both state and federal
entities have made the problems communities face much clearer and have
provided valuable financial resources that can supplement community
financial needs – from planning to implementation..
Why would I change from my current Axiom service? – I think it’s good
enough.
ANSWER: It may be good enough for
you today, but DSL service over copper wires is a fading technology and
will eventually be phased out by the industry as the wires and equipment
age. However, if you want to keep your old DSL service for now, you can at
the current price, but there may be a connection charge if you wait until
after the first year of the new fiber rollout.
I
don’t use the Internet at home – I just watch TV and use the phone.
ANSWER: As an example many TV
services are available over the internet – you may not know that. In the
near future phone companies (including Consolidated) will be making a push
to get rid of copper technologies and go to fiber, and voice over internet
protocol (VOIP) will become the norm. What you use today will not be what
you or those that may own your home in the future will need or use. AND
you can get rid of your Dish/Direct TV and replace it with cheaper
broadband access.
What’s better about fiber? We’ve had copper for a long time.
ANSWER: Exactly – copper has been
around a very long time, and it is a medium that is prone to variations in
manufacturing and degradation issues that affects performance. Those
variations come from manufacturing, corrosion, as well as external damage.
Fiber is glass and is pure. It relies on light and the laser’s
capabilities determine the performance limitations, not necessarily the
fiber.
I
have a long driveway and it’s expensive to get services to my house –
what’s different about this?
ANSWER:
The
goal of this effort is to get to everyone, not just those close to a main
road but every home on the island will be able to be served at no cost to
the homeowner. Homeowners can get fiber just the way they now get phone
and electric service.
What happens 10-20 years from now? Are we going to do this again?
ANSWER: No. Fiber is considered future proof. It’s primarily the
laser’s capabilities (what sends the information over the fiber) that
determines the performance limitations. But yes- improvements in fiber
technologies may surpass what we install but not to the point what we have
is obsolete. We deal with “megabits” today - tomorrow it’ll be gigabits.
After that terabits and beyond. Fiber can do that and laser improvements
will be able to do that as well.
Will
I get the service they advertise
ANSWER: Yes.
Will my fiber service be more expensive than what I have now?
ANSWER: Yes – but it’s all
relative. Fiber is more cost effective overall because the cost per mega
bit is less. The base level of service will also be better than what you
have today with DSL or satellite. Will you pay more? Your chosen level of
service will define that answer and cost will be a factor in the decision
process.
Do I need to change anything in my house to make this work?
ANSWER: No. Fiber can exist in
your house as it is built today. If you have a large structure and wifi
will not reach areas adequately you may need to install a mesh system – a
system to enhance wifi within a structure and that exists today.
I’m only here part of the year and don’t need it all the time.
ANSWER: Axiom and the Committee
are looking out for the seasonal residents with a seasonal rate and a rate
for those who use security systems or furnace alarms . You have a future
proof internet connection that will allow you to monitor and protect your
valuable seasonal home more economically yourself.
How does fiber change how I live today or in the future if I don’t use the
internet at home?
ANSWER: Everything. You can buy
any TV and watch it in the definition 10k or 3d or whatever the future
brings. You can talk and see your caller on the home phone, you can talk
and see your doctor without taking the boat and driving to Portland (or
wherever) and waiting in a waiting room…. The list is endless.
I’ve got Axiom and I use their basic service – that’s all I need. How does
fiber benefit me?
ANSWER: One big benefit is that
the value of your home may increase as much as 3% according to studies and
the resale when the time comes immensely benefits through your future
proof fiber service, and the same is true for rental values. The basic
service is targeted at a symmetrical service level I.E. 100/100 – not 25/3
or 100/10, or 6/1, which is what most households have now.
I
just got Starlink – why would I change?
ANSWER: CONGRATULATIONS! – If
you’re switching from DSL (as an example) to Starlink you’ve taken a big
leap. But Starlink was built for those places hard to reach via wired
service or for those areas where internet capacities are poor because of
existing service – like DSL. It is not targeted for cable TV users or most
definitely fiber users.
1. Starlink is affected by the environment as a wireless service and
relies on space-based equipment with latency issues fiber does not have.
2. Some weather situations will degrade it – so will trees and other
obstacles, so it is not available to everyone, nor was it planned to be.
3. The cost for fiber will be well less per symmetrical megabit than
Starlink will be able to provide and Starlink is not symmetrical.
What if I just want a Phone?
ANSWER: With fiber you will be
able to subscribe to a more affordable phone connection than conventional
copper - with voice over internet protocol (VOIP). VOIP has come a long
way and will eventually replace traditional copper phone lines for
reliability and affordability.
But I don't like my DSL Provider...
ANSWER: With fiber, service
calls will dramatically decrease (dramatically) and performance issues a
non issue. Their past issues will disappear and those supporting fiber
will be in a far better place - their #1 issues will be gone!
Why is the FCC definition of Broadband still 100/20?
ANSWER: As of April 13, 2022 the
FCC still has only 4 members on the board and they are split regarding the
definition.. The 5th member is held up in the senate for confirmation.
Why are they against 100mbps/100mbps?
Answer: ATT, Comcast, Verizon,
Charter (Spectrum) etc. are all against the change because their services
(I.E. coaxial cable, 4glte...) would no longer be considered as broadband
- pretty simple. Fiber providers - generally - and others are for the
change. Some providing both may not be, so the picture is muddied. When
it's 100/100 the change will be clear.
Why do I need symmetrical - or why does anyone?
ANSWER - one of
them...: Symmetrical allows someone or some thing sending information to
have the information transmitted on an equal basis with the entity sending
the information in other direction. Every transmission is treated equally.
One example: a doctor operating takes an action and sees the action
visually even though it might have physically occurred thousands of miles
away. Timing counts - think of a hearing test over the internet. Another
example: You are communicating with another - be it verbally or a game and
your action requires a counter action as if you were in the same room.
100/10 means your block happens but it is never in time - always late.
With 100/100 you are in synch and see and respond at the same time.
Will Wireless replace Fiber?
ANSWER: Every
internet/cellular/streaming (I.E. TV) service uses fiber. Though it may be
more cost effective to build wireless services they are fed by fiber
technologies. Call someone 3000 miles away on your cell phone (as an
example) - it goes to the nearest tower that serves your phone provide
(roaming or otherwise). It then goes via fiber to the tower nearest to the
person you are calling via fiber and then to their phone. All undersea
cables are fiber and all satellite services use fiber to get information
to the ground station that sends and receives information from satellites
and which then transmits it to the appropriate station that then transmits
that information to a satellite that then serves the intended receiver of
the information. Speed of light (enabler) and line of sight (lOS)
(restrictor).
No one needs 50Mbps upload (or 30Mbps is good enough…)
ANSWER:
A
user’s desire and need to use 50mbps or 1 gbps for upload/download is up
to the user – especially if they have the choice. Time is important for
many reasons – personal, work, education, etc. though a user may not
send or generate data that matches a capacity available (e. 1 gbps), the
user still accesses that “speed” potential – no matter what they
send. 50mb of data uploaded still travels at 1gbps and gets to the
receiver 20 times faster than at 50.
Backup 500gb of data at 1gbps - it takes 500 sec (8.3 min)
Backup 500gb at 50mbps – it takes 10,000 sec or 166.6 min (2.8
hrs)
Do you have the time to just sit and wait…?
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