Fiber Internet Installation Update

Now that the fiber-to-the-home internet installation in the community has begun, we want to make sure residents know what to expect. As a reminder, this is a 14-month project by Coastal Communications that is an alternative service to Comcast/Xfinity. You can contact Coastal Communications for more information (hello@coastal-comm.com or www.coastal-comm.com).  

Last week, Coastal Communications reports they made better than expected progress, laying 7,346 feet of cable. Three missile boring crews completed Tarrow Ridge Road and all cross streets and them moved to Sparnel Road and Shearwater Court. This week, the three missile crews returned finishing up Sparnel Road. The crews now will move to Waterside Road and all cross streets heading towards Hasleiter's Retreat.

Some residents have asked how the fiber will be installed and what members can expect to see as the work unfolds. Below are some photos that explain the process, along with an example of a utility company marking its lines. As mentioned in a recent Landings Association email, advance crews have been marking utilities with paint and flags. This allows the subsequent boring crews to know where utilities are located when they install the conduit that will hold the new fiber. Please do not remove the flags. The crews will remove the flags when work is completed.

 

 

Access holes are dug approximately every 10 feet. This allowers workers to guide the missile borer and helps locate items like irrigation systems that otherwise might not be marked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sod and dirt are set aside on a tarp to restore the landscaping after work is completed. In the second photo, you can see the white pipes of an irrigation system that were located and will be marked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured is the compressor to run the missile borer. A larger, directional borer will be used where appropriate on main thoroughfares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shown is the missile borer coming through the hole and being guided to the next hole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange conduit is pulled through the hole created by the missile borer. It has a tracer wire with it for later locates as needed. Then, fiber cable will be “blown” through the conduit.

 

 

 

 

 

Shown is a junction box that will be installed flush to the ground. There is basically one box between each home. When homeowners sign up, crews can pull fiber from these boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two photos show a splicing vault, where conduit from different runs will terminate, allowing the fiber to be connected. The vault has rocks inside to allow for better drainage. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is important that all utilities are located before work begins to avoid disruptions. This photo shows Utilities, Inc. of Georgia employees using ground penetrating radar and a pole to help find and mark its water lines.