What's the big deal about fiber?

What makes fiber optic lines special is their ability to transmit a lot of data very quickly. Our daily lives on the internet involve sending and receiving a lot of data. This could be photos, video, texts, or music. Fiber makes it possible for that transmission of data to happen much quicker. This means quicker access to entertainment, education, or employment. It also means more people can use the connection at once, which is important as more of our daily activities move online.

Will having fiber automatically improve my internet?

Having fiber may improve the reliability of your connection because it's not as susceptible to different forms of interference. However, if your bandwidth isn’t adequate for your needs then you’ll still have a poor internet experience. If you’re subscribed to a 10 Mbps plan that isn't enough for your needs, and you stay at the same 10 Mbps after your location has been upgraded to fiber, then data is still going to be sent and received at that same speed. Your experience isn’t going to improve without a faster speed.

What commitment is required to register my address on connect.stratanetworks.com?

To demonstrate your interest in fiber, we ask that registrants commit to subscribing to our new Ultimate Internet package (or equivalent business package) for one year after receiving fiber. This commitment is important because it helps illustrate where the demand for faster internet is and where building fiber would be most effective.

How many times can I register?

Only one registration per household/internet connection is allowed. During the process of calculating the winning zones, any duplicate registrations will be identified and removed. If this occurs the zone progress towards the goal will decrease.

Who can register?

Because registration involves a commitment to subscribe to our Ultimate Internet package for at least one year, we ask that only users who are authorized to make account decisions register on this platform.

Why isn't my address included in the planned areas?

Our long-term goal is to build a fiber optic broadband network throughout the Basin. This is a tall order, and some areas are easier or cheaper to build than others. Some areas allow us to reach many more locations and impact more customers. There are a lot of reasons why a particular location might not be included in our immediate plans, but we want to know where the demand exists. If enough people indicate their interest, it may be able to influence our construction plans.

How soon will construction start after reaching our goal?

Periodically throughout the year, we will select areas to build fiber to. The variable logistics of fiber construction make it difficult to give a precise timeline, but our goal is to begin within six months of the selection announcement.

Why did my zone layout change?

A wide variety of factors come into play when building a fiber optic broadband network. Sometimes new calculations require that an area be re-engineered. Occasionally a road construction project will require us to move our telecommunication lines, which then creates urgency in a particular area to make the upgrade to fiber and prioritize that location. The unfortunate reality is that plans must sometimes change. But now you can stay informed, watch the status of upcoming projects, get updates, and see where we are building next on connect.stratanetworks.com!

Why did the progress to my zone’s goal decrease?

There could be a few reasons for a change in the progress towards your zone’s goal. If the layout of the zone needs to change (as mentioned above) or if the number of locations in a zone changes, then the goal and the relative progress towards it will also likely change. It could also be that new information has been uncovered that makes a zone more or less expensive to build, and the goal needs to be adjusted accordingly. It is also important to note that because we only allow one registration per household or internet connection, we will remove duplicate registrations during the process of calculating the winning zones. One or more of these factors could contribute to a dramatic increase or decrease in the progress towards a zone’s goal.

Why did another zone get moved into the queue before me?

As we’ve discussed here, sometimes other considerations need to be made when planning our network construction. Throughout the year you will see zones be reprioritized for other reasons, besides progress towards the zone goal. These additional zone changes are something we considered when setting up this platform, but it doesn’t change our commitment to pick two zones per quarter based on demand. Don’t worry, we are still watching your zone’s progress towards the goal of getting fiber!

Does my zone have to meet 100% of our goal before fiber gets built to my zone?

No, you don’t have to make it to 100% in order for your zone to be selected. Our commitment is that every quarter we will select the two zones that are closest to their goal to be prioritized in the fiber construction schedule. So, while meeting 100% of the goal would give you the best possible chance of being selected, it isn’t a requirement. Just make sure your zone is staying ahead of the competition!

What are the different stages a zone goes through to get fiber to my location?

It’s a lot of work, but it can be grouped into three main stages: Initial Planning, Construction, and Final Installation. Initial planning is when the Engineering Department creates the CAD drawings and basic plans, permits are then obtained, and other resources are coordinated. During the construction stage our crews use various types of equipment to get fiber conduit into the ground and up to each location. This is also the stage when the main fiber lines are put into the conduit. Final installation is when Strata technicians contact each home or business to set up an appointment to get fiber installed inside the location. After that short visit from our tech you’ll be speeding down the information superhighway faster than you ever dreamed possible.