1. What is involved in the initial fibre drop installation?

   Our technicians will install an aerial or buried fibre optic cable from the nearest hydro or telephone pole to the side of your house (typically near where your existing phone line or electrical service entrance is). The fibre optic cable is then terminated in a service box. The technician then tests the line to verify that light can pass from the fibre termination box to the cable end at the telephone pole.

2. Why is the fibre installed before the service can be activated?

   The roll out of fibre to a project as large as RC8 involves many moving parts. At different phases of the project, our technicians have varying levels of workload. By having a large number of households signed up as service is being built, we can more efficiently schedule the work, which allows us to get more houses online faster. Furthermore, by installing fibre while the ground is not yet frozen, we can guard against an early frost delaying service installation.

3. Is this really a fibre based internet service?

   Yes, it is! We use a technology called Passive Optical Networking.

4. Does the speed of the internet connection vary based on where I am located as it does with DSL?

   It does not. Because fibre optics make use of light to transmit information, the equipment is able to operate at full speed so long as it can "see" the light. Houses that are further away merely "see" the light as being slightly dimmer than those which are closer, but we engineer and monitor the network to ensure that there is always sufficient light.

5. Is it safe to use my internet during thunderstorms?

   Yes! Unlike copper telephone lines used for DSL or cable, fibre optic lines do not conduct electricity, so a nearby lightning strike will not follow the fibre optic cable into your house as it would with a conventional telephone line or cable TV coax. That said, the equipment is still susceptible to power surges, so a direct lightning strike of your power lines can still damage the equipment.

6. Why should I sign a contract before my service can be activated?

   Signed contracts are how the construction costs for a project are financed. By having a significant number of signed contracts, our investors are willing to extend funds for the rapid deployment of this new fibre optic network. No deposit is required, only a commitment to purchase the service when it becomes available.

7. Does my phone service work if the power goes out?

   Yes, but only for a limited amount of time. A fibre optic cable can not be directly connected to a traditional telephone, so a piece of equipment called ATA must convert the signals into those required by a phone. This device requires power to run, and will only be able to continue operating as long as the battery is able to provide power. The battery backup provided with our VoIP phone service is usually able to operate for up to 8 hours when fully charged.

8. Can you expand your awesome internet service to where I live?

   We will most certainly try! For areas that are close to our existing fibre optic network, service extension may be able to be done merely by running a new drop cable to your location. In areas that are further away, we may require a larger community to carry the cost of financing construction. The Community Fibre Company is here to help communities of interested people band together to build the internet service needed in the 21st century.

9. I have my own router. Why do you provide one?

   The router provided with our service does two important tasks. First, it enables us to monitor the quality of your internet connection. Second, it injects power into the ethernet cable that runs to the equipment on the side of the house. By using standardized equipment across all customers, we are better able to detect and manage service outages, reduce the number of parts we have to stock for repairs, and are able to provide higher quality wireless access points.

Please ask us more questions! We want to know what you want to know! :)