Project Information is up to date as of 03/14/23.

The South Island Drive & Howard Cove Fiberhoods will construct a ready-to-connect open-access fiber optic network to serve the citizens that live in the surrounding area with unlimited, symmetrical, gigabit broadband. At the completion of this project, fiber distribution will be constructed along existing pole lines and available at the road. Customers will then be able to submit an application to get their home or business connected to the network so they can turn up world-class internet, HDTV, and voice services.

PROJECT PARTNERS/FUNDING

This project is made possible in partnership with PUD 3’s Fiberhood program and the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). PUD 3 was awarded a grant and loan to construct this network in September 2018. PUD 3 intends to meet the requirements of the grant to have substantial completion of the fiber distribution network by May 2023.

MANY STEPS TO GETTING CONNECTED

We understand that you likely wish you were connected already. Extending fiber networks to rural, unserved areas like yours is a very difficult, costly, and time consuming endeavor. If it was easy, a private for-profit company would have done it already! There are many, many communities throughout Mason County that are in similar broadband-deserts, without access to adequate internet. PUD 3 staff has to tell many inquiring customers every day that we are not in a position to serve them right now. Thankfully, your community’s story is different! You have done your part to rally your neighbors and express interest in PUD 3’s Fiberhood program. Now, it’s our turn to do the heavy lifting. Don’t worry, PUD 3’s teams are experts in this process! Over 3,000 homes and businesses around Mason County, in some of the hardest to reach areas, are now connected to the fiber optic network. We are working through our long construction queues and turning up new neighborhoods every month or so.

Here's a quick overview of the 8 STEPS to a PUD 3 Fiber Connection.

1. Pre-Construction Engineering – Engineers evaluate poles in the area and call for adjustments or replacements to make room for the fiber cables, OR if existing power service is underground, they create designs to install new conduit where it won’t interfere with existing utilities and make as little impact as possible to roadways.
2. Make Ready Crew – Linemen replace or reframe the poles AND/OR they dig trenches for fiber conduit if the main electrical lines are to remain underground.
3. Telecom Engineering – Engineers then design the maps and estimate the supplies and equipment needed. This is a very technical process to ensure there is enough fiber for each existing parcel, and room for growth as the neighborhood develops. This step also includes identifying a location and installing a fiber distribution hut and creating a safe pull-off for PUD 3 crews to work at the hut.
4. Main Line Fiber Crew – A fiber crew then installs the main fiber-optic cables and the service terminals in the neighborhood. This is very often a contract crew that PUD 3 hires to perform this work. The required competitive bidding process takes additional time, but it ensures PUD 3 is in compliance with the law and that we get the best deal possible on behalf of our customers.
5. Splicing Crew – Splicers must join the newly installed cables together with a high-tech fiber fusion machine. This is usually yet another sub-contracted group. Sometimes this phase can seem to take a long time because the work occurs in a box van and is less visible than the installation of new infrastructure such as poles, conduit, or fiber cable.
6. Service Drop Designer – Once the network is constructed at the road, customers within the Fiberhood can apply to get connected! An engineer meets with the homeowner on site to plan the best path to the home and review requirements.
7. Service Drop Install Crew – The installation crew extends a service line and attaches a fiber gateway to the exterior of the home.
8. Pick a Provider – With PUD 3’s open access fiber network, a number of retail service providers can deliver unlimited, symmetrical, gigabit internet (1000/1000 Mbps), HDTV, and/or phone services to your home over the single fiber optic cable. Shop around to get the best deal! If you’re not happy with one, pick another and utilize the same fiber line installed by PUD 3.

SO, WHICH STEP ARE WE AT NOW?

The South Island Drive Fiberhood mainline construction has been completed!  As we review and process the network test results, our Mapping Team is performing the as-built documentation and posting the completed work in our mapping system.  Once complete, we will send out announcement letters to those within the Fiberhood to solicit applications for service.  Announcement letters should be expected in late April / early May 2023.

Here's a PDF of a letter that was sent to area homes in October 2022.

PROJECT LIMITATIONS – Private Roads with Underground Utilities

PUD 3’s goal is to connect as many customers as possible, as quickly and as safely as possible. This means that our primary goal is to get the fiber distribution network constructed along the main road. If you live off of private roads such as Trillium Lane and Heron Cove, your power is underground and we don’t have existing fiber conduit in your street. Therefore, once we complete the main distribution network, we will have to come together with the community to discuss options to bring the fiber to your homes. Don’t worry, fiber capacity has been reserved and dedicated for each parcel- we just need to establish a plan, create engineering designs, and then perform construction to get it to you. We know this delays the timeframe for you to get connected, but we need to build upon each phase to get all homes and businesses in the area connected.

COVID IMPACTS

COVID-19 has brought additional challenges in forecasting and executing construction projects throughout the world.  PUD 3 is no exception to these impacts caused by COVID-19.  For example, the raw materials used to construct our fiber network ranging from fiber optic cable, distribution terminals, pole attachment hardware, splice enclosures, vaults, pedestals, conduit, and the electronic gateway components that we install at each premise have been impacted at the manufacturing and distribution levels.  We have been (and are currently) experiencing supply-chain delays impacting several of these items.  We are doing everything possible to secure these needed materials to keep construction moving forward.  For the latest information on the supply chain issues that we are experiencing, click here.

Additionally, labor resources have been impacted due to COVID-19.  This, unfortunately, has caused construction times to increase due to absenteeism when a person gets infected, or has been in close contact with someone who is infected.

Please understand that we are working though these challenges diligently to keep projects on track in the most efficient manner possible.