BUILDING BROADBAND
Our mission is to help you gain access to our fast, reliable fiber optic network.
Construction projects can feel overwhelming, but we're here to help you through the process.
KEY TERMS
MIDDLE MILE
Shared fiber infrastructure in the road that brings service to your neighborhood.
LAST MILE
The fiber extension from the road to your home.
FIBERHOOD
A group of neighbors who work together to bring fiber to their area. Middle Mile costs are shared, while Last Mile costs are individual. More on Fiberhoods HERE
CONDUIT
Plastic tubing (pictured in the background of this page) installed underground, through which fiber optic cable is pulled.
NID
Network Interface Demarcation - the small box on the outside of your home where fiber is terminated.
PATCH CABLE
The interior fiber line that connects your NID to your in-home router.
BUILD PROCESS
DESIGN & DESKTOP ESTIMATE
Our engineering department provides a free, preliminary estimate based on your location and proximity to existing infrastructure.
CONTRACTOR ESTIMATE
If the desktop estimate looks good to you, we will request a boots-on-the-ground estimate from one of our preferred contractors.
PAPERWORK
You will receive a work order from the contractor outlining your trenching cost, as well as a Rock Island work order for our labor & materials (note that we knock $1500 off of our cost for every build automatically). If necessary, you'll also receive a Communications System Easement.
CONSTRUCTION
Contractor installs conduit from the road to your home following Rock Island's specifications
FIBER INSTALLATION
Rock Island's crew installs fiber in the conduit, splices it into our network, and installs the NID on the exterior of the home
SERVICE ACTIVATION
Rock Island's crew runs a patch cable from the NID to the interior of the home, installs the router, and activates your service
DO IT YOURSELF
