Residential Fiber
Residential fiber installations picked back up April, and have continued to set record numbers this biennium. The SandyNet team has been working hard to make sure that our residential service allows everyone the ability to distance learn or work remotely. An uptick in Gigabit customers, Mesh Unit sales and brand new installations has kept our administration, helpdesk, NOC, construction and installation members busy these past eight months.
Business Fiber
Business installs continue to trickle in. We have had a wide fluctuation of business customers cancelling and signing as funds permit. Many are struggling to operate during the pandemic. SandyNet is in the final stages of converting the few remaining WiFi businesses over to fiber, as expansion of central office equipment permits.
New Developments
Since the last update, Center City Townhomes has completed, Sandy Woods is 2/3rds completed and Marshal Ridge (For what lots they have not sold off to another developer) have completed 85% of their development. The new developments have created a constraint for available PON ports, so an additional Calix access system has been purchased and spun up to help with the ever-growing expansion of Sandy.
Wireless Systems
We have started to upgrade and expand our wireless system that feeds rural areas and customers that are not eligible for fiber service. Recent upgrades have included expanding WiFi capabilities out at the Pioneer Mobile Home Park for distance learning. Working with both OTSD and Clackamas County, we have set three new utility poles, two in Boring, one up off of Dowling Rd for future expansion. Further, we have deployed a new Wireless system down off of Ruben ln, in the industrial park. The only provider that services that area is the phone company, and the ground composition doesn’t allow for drilling with our equipment, so we now offer 25 and 50Mbps plans for service.
Wireless Hotspots
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have deployed numerous hotspots in Sandy and one up the mountain in Government Camp. These are to help those without internet get online if they current do not have internet, or cannot afford it. A full list can be found at https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/hotspots. Additionally, we help put up access points in the Cinema parking lot during the Wildfires to help evacuees connect and communicate with family.
Grants
Jointly filing with Clackamas County, SandyNet was part of three separate grants during the summer. One was with through the State, one through the EDA and the other was the FCC’s RDOF auction. Unfortunately the County was unable to continue with the RDOF program, so while we were eligible to participate in the auction, we cannot move forward since we filed jointly. We were rejected funds for the State grant, and the EDA grant is still being reviewed.
Internal IT
Jeff has moved from our Systems Administrator into our Network Engineer role, and his previous position is currently open for hire. We are excited to soon be fully staffed for the first time in almost two years.