Category Archives: Uncategorized

Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force

Many Lyndon residents are mindful of other projects and initiatives that are being undertaken to address the lack of broadband access in our rural areas.  Residents are interested in the scope of these projects, the funding models that are being proposed and if any of these funding resources could be of benefit to Lyndon Township.  Recently we have been hearing about an effort by Washtenaw County – the Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force.

The Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force is a Board of Commissioners-appointed group studying countywide broadband equity. The Task Force’s current main activity is conducting a survey to better define which areas of the County lack broadband, in preparation to seek funding sources and partnerships. Lyndon Township is not included in the survey mailing since we will have 100% broadband coverage upon completion of our project later this year.Implementation of the Task Force has much to do with the years of work put in by volunteers from Western Washtenaw County to raise awareness of the broadband issue and explore solutions. Lyndon Township has been successful in addressing our own lack of broadband, but many other townships in the County still have areas without service. Lyndon Township has representation on this Task Force to both provide the benefit of our experience and also ensure that any County-funded broadband effort would benefit Lyndon Township. However, currently the Task Force does not anticipate a County funded or owned solution – instead they are exploring private partnerships that could incentivize private broadband expansion with state or federal grant money.
This County effort likely would not have happened if not for the success of Lyndon Township in the broadband space. And while we are hopeful that the Task Force is successful for the sake of our neighboring townships, it’s important to note that feasibility studies suggest even grant-incentivized broadband service offered from private partners would not be less expensive than Lyndon Township’s service (even when including our millage funding), and any success here would still be years away in terms of deployment.

Lyndon Township continues to independently track grant and other external broadband funding opportunities to ensure that we try to leverage any funding sources that might become available. But it’s important to note that broadband grant funding is limited and very competitive, and Lyndon Township’s demographics excluded us from most funding opportunities even before we began our own fiber project. We will continue to keep our ears to the ground for any new opportunities that could offset our broadband costs in the future.

Construction Update 1-26 to 2-8

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 1/26/2020 through 2/1/2020:
  • 6 to 8 bore crews on-site
  • Bored 26 feet on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 417 feet on Badger Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 90 feet on Coon Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 4,234 feet on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 192 feet on Farnsworth Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 2,628 feet on Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bored 2,057 feet on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Installed 3 pedestals in Bruin PON and 5 pedestals in Joslin PON
  • Spliced 0 drops (totals to-date: 156 spliced – 89 in Werkner PON, 66 in Island Lake PON and 1 in Central Office PON).
  • Completed 5 new home installations (totals to date: 147 with broadband – 83 in Werkner PON, 63 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
Work to be completed 2/2/2020 through 2/8/2020:
  • 6 bore crews on-site (Note:  No work on 2/6 due to weather.)
  • Bore on Coon Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Continue the punch list items regarding the fiber terminations and final testing in the Central Office PON
There are four basic phases of work in bringing internet service to your home:
  • Mainline Boring
  • Mainline Fiber Installation
  • Drop Installation (bringing fiber cable from the road to the side of each home)
  • Home Installation (bringing fiber into you home and attaching to network router)

Here is the current status for zones or PONS that are in progress.

Werkner
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 93% (83) complete
89 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 93% (63) complete
68 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 92% (79) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
86 Subscribers

Boyce
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
(finishing redesign work in one area near Cassidy and Beeman Roads)
Drop Installations complete
126 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installation 2% (2) complete
114 Subscribers

Guinan
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 49% complete
40 Subscribers

Long Lake
Mainline Boring 98% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring 92% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 74% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 65% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 92% complete
90 Subscribers

Construction Update 1-19 to 2-1

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 1/19/2020 through 1/25/2020:
  • 8 bore crews on-site
  • Bored 1,994 feet on Bruin Lake Shores (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 400 feet on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 3,006 feet on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 1,148 feet on Farnsworth Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 5,724 feet on Bowdish Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 4 pedestals in Bruin PON and 5 pedestals in Ellsworth PON
  • Spliced 6 drops (totals to-date: 156 spliced – 89 in Werkner PON, 66 in Island Lake PON and 1 in Central Office PON).
  • 0 new home installation (totals to date: 142 with broadband – 79 in Werkner PON, 62 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
Work to be completed 1/26/2020 through 2/1/2020:
  • 6 to 8 bore crews on-site
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Shores (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Bartell Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Bowdish Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Finish the punch list items regarding the fiber terminations and final testing in the Central Office PON
  • Complete 5 new home installations in Werkner and Island Lake PONs
There are four basic phases of work in bringing internet service to your home:
  • Mainline Boring
  • Mainline Fiber Installation
  • Drop Installation (bringing fiber cable from the road to the side of each home)
  • Home Installation (bringing fiber into you home and attaching to network router)

Here is the current status for zones or PONS that are in progress.

Werkner
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 89% (79) complete
89 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 91% (62) complete
68 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 92% (79) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
86 Subscribers

Boyce
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
(finishing redesign work in one area near Cassidy and Beeman Roads)
Drop Installations complete
126 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installation 2% (2) complete
114 Subscribers

Guinan
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 49% complete
40 Subscribers

Long Lake
Mainline Boring 98% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring 92% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 73% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 42% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 87% complete
90 Subscribers

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund 1-30-2020

The Federal Communications Commission today took its single biggest step to date to close the digital divide by establishing the new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to efficiently fund the deployment of high-speed broadband networks in rural America to bring gigabit speed broadband networks into unserved rural areas, connecting millions more American homes and businesses to digital opportunity.  

 The Oversight committee for the Lyndon Broadband project attended a meeting last week with our Internet Service Provides MEC.  Present at that meeting was Bob Hance the President & CEO of MEC who had recently attended a  meeting with Representative Tim Walberg and  Ajit Pai, Chairman of the FCC.  The meeting with Walberg and Pai focused on the challenges of rural broadband deployment and the federal government’s attempts to assist in that endeavor.
 
Unfortunately Lyndon does not qualify Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.  The new funding is targeted for the unserved & under-served in areas where the average income level is well below that of Lyndon.  There are also some technology related issues that disqualify Lyndon.
 
It is important to note that the Broadband Implementation Committee continues to keep a close watch on grant opportunities for our project.
You can read more about Rural Digital Opportunity Fund here:

Construction Update 1-28-2020

Lyndon Broadband Implementation Committee has reviewed the fiber test records from H&M within the Central Office (CO) PON.  To continue forward progress, we have coordinated with MEC to finish the punch list items regarding the fiber terminations and final testing in the CO PON.  There will be MEC and EarthCom crews throughout the CO PON for the next few weeks with home installations beginning as routes meet project standards and are accepted. At this time we do not believe these issues will affect the current timeline communicated in past communications. Inner-duct boring continues throughout the Township as weather allows. Fewer than eight miles (11.5%) of main line boring remain to complete on the project.     

Project Schedule
Construction Sequence and Map

Construction Update1-12 to 1-25

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 1/12/2020 through 1/18/2020:
  • 4 to 8 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pulling crew
  • Bored 100 feet on Sugarloaf Lake Road (Sugarloaf PON)
  • Bored 750 feet on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 365 feet on Bruin Lake Shores (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 2,223 feet on Blind Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 8,713 feet on Joslin Lake Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bored 2,096 feet on Farnsworth Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 1,528 feet on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 3,545 feet on Jaycox Road (Ellsworth)
  • Bored 550 feet on Bowdish Road (Ellsworth)
  • Installed 3 pedestals in Sugarloaf PON and 9 pedestals in Bruin PON
  • Pulled 3,312 feet of fiber in Sugarloaf PON
  • Completed 12 new drops (totals to-date: 364 total drops – 89 in Werkner PON, 68 in Island Lake PON, 79 in Central Office PON, 126 in Boyce PON and 2 in Sugarloaf PON). Note: Drops are finished until Spring 2020.
  • Spliced 0 job (totals to-date: 150 spliced – 84 in Werkner PON, 65 in Island Lake PON and 1 in Central Office PON).
  • 1 new home installation (totals to date: 142 with broadband – 79 in Werkner PON, 62 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
Work to be completed 1/19/2020 through 1/25/2020:
  • 8 bore crews on-site
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Shores (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Blind Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Jaycox Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Bowdish Road (Ellsworth PON)
There are four basic phases of work in bringing internet service to your home:
  • Mainline Boring
  • Mainline Fiber Installation
  • Drop Installation (bringing fiber cable from the road to the side of each home)
  • Home Installation (bringing fiber into you home and attaching to network router)

Here is the current status for zones or PONS that are in progress.

Werkner
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 89% (79) complete
89 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 91% (62) complete
68 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 90% (79) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
86 Subscribers

Boyce
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installations complete
126 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring 99% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installation 2% (2) complete
114 Subscribers

Guinan
Mainline Boring 89% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 49% complete
40 Subscribers

Long Lake
Mainline Boring 96% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring 84% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 55% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 42% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 52% complete
90 Subscribers

Construction Update 1-5 to 1-18

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 1/5/2020 through 1/11/2020:
  • 6 to 7 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pulling crew and one splicing crew.  Hired new boring company with two crews.
  • Bored 91 feet on Boyce Road (Boyce PON)
  • Bored 210 feet on Guinan Drive (Guinan PON)
  • Bored 1,555 feet on Gregory Court (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 610 feet on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 1,455 feet on Blind Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 5,498 feet on Farnsworth Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 5 pedestals in Guinan PON
  • Pulled 2,502 feet of fiber in Guinan PON
  • Spliced fiber in Boyce PON
  • Completed 0 new drops (totals to-date: 352 total drops – 86 in Werkner PON, 67 in Island Lake PON, 77 in Central Office PON and 122 in Boyce PON)
  • Spliced 0 job (totals to-date: 150 spliced – 84 in Werkner PON, 65 in Island Lake PON and 1 in Central Office PON). (Note: Only four splices remain in Werkner and Island Lake PONs.)
  • 9 new home installations (totals to date: 141 with broadband – 79 in Werkner PON, 61 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
Work to be completed 1/12/2020 through 1/18/2020:
  • 6 to 7 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pull crew and one splicing crew.
  • Bore on Sugarloaf Lake Road (Sugarloaf PON)
  • Bore on Gregory Court (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Shores (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Blind Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Jaycox Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Finish installing remaining drops in Werkner, Island Lake, Central Office, and Boyce PONs
There are four basic phases of work in bringing internet service to your home:
  • Mainline Boring
  • Mainline Fiber Installation
  • Drop Installation (bringing fiber cable from the road to the side of each home)
  • Home Installation (bringing fiber into you home and attaching to network router)

Here is the current status for zones or PONS that are in progress.

Werkner
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 98% (86) complete
Home Installations 90% (79) complete
88 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 99% (67) complete
Home Installations 90% (61) complete
68 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 90% (77) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
86 Subscribers

Boyce
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installations 99% (122) complete
123 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring 99% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 96% complete
114 Subscribers

Guinan
Mainline Boring 89% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 49% complete
40 Subscribers

Long Lake
Mainline Boring 96% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring 84% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 47% complete
52 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 42% complete
90 Subscribers

Construction Update 12-29 to1-11

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 12/29 through 1/4:
  • 5 to 6 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pulling crew and one splicing crew (Note: no work on 12/31/2019 or 1/1/2020.)
  • Bored 410 feet on Sugarloaf Lake Road (Guinan PON)
  • Bored 15 feet on Guinan Drive (Guinan PON)
  • Bored 449 feet on Hadley Road (Wild Goose PON)
  • Bored 1,045 feet on Watt Road (Wild Goose PON)
  • Bored 1,872 feet on Hidden Lake Road (Wild Goose PON)
  • Bored 500 feet on Bruin Lake Shores Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 320 feet on Hadley Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 1,277 feet on Bartell Drive (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 530 feet on Farnsworth Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 4 pedestals in Guinan PON, 5 pedestals in Wild Goose PON, and 4 pedestals in Bruin PON
  • Pulled 3,744 feet of fiber in Sugarloaf PON
  • Spliced fiber in Boyce PON
  • Completed 47 new drops in Boyce PON.  Totals to-date: 352 total drops – 84 in Werkner PON, 66 in Island Lake PON, 77 in Central Office PON and 125 in Boyce PON)
  • Spliced jobs (totals to-date: 148 spliced – 84 in Werkner PON, 64 in Island Lake PON and 1 in Central Office PON). (Note: Only two splices remain in Werkner and Island Lake PONs.)
  • 0 new home installations (totals to date: 132 with broadband – 79 in Werkner PON, 52 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).  (Note:  No home installations have been scheduled by home owners during the holiday weeks.  Home installations resume on January 7.)
Work to be completed 1/5 through 1/11:
  • 6 to 7 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pull crew and one splicing crew.  Note: New boring company starts next week with two additional crews.
  • Bore on Sugarloaf Lake Road (Sugarloaf PON)
  • Bore on Guinan Road (Guinan PON)
  • Bore on Gregory Court (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Hadley Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Crescent Drive (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Edgewater Drive (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Blind Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Farnsworth Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Continue to install remaining drops in Werkner, Island Lake, Central Office, and Boyce PONs until ground freezes
  • Continue to pull fiber in Sugarloaf PON and splice fiber in Boyce PON
There are four basic phases of work in bringing internet service to your home:
  • Mainline Boring
  • Mainline Fiber Installation
  • Drop Installation (bringing fiber cable from the road to the side of each home)
  • Home Installation (bringing fiber into you home and attaching to network router)

Here is the current status for zones or PONS that are in progress.

Werkner
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 96% (84) complete
Home Installations 90% (79) complete
88 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 94% (66) complete
Home Installations 74% (52) complete
70 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 88% (77) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
88 Subscribers

Boyce
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installations 63% (78) complete
123 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring 99% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 96% complete
114 Subscribers

Guinan
Mainline Boring 86% complete
40 Subscribers  

Long Lake
Mainline Boring 96% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring 84% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 39% complete
52 Subscribers

Construction Update 12-11 to 1-4

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 12/22 through 12/28:
  • 4 to 7 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pulling crew and one splicing crew (Note: 1/2 day on 12/24 and no work on 12/25.)
  • Bored 460 feet on Waterloo Road (Sugarloaf PON)
  • Bored 240 feet on Maple Drive (Sugarloaf PON)
  • Bored 180 feet on Sugarloaf Lake Road (Guinan PON)
  • Bored 360 feet on Maple Drive (Guinan PON)
  • Bored 1,150 feet on Hadley Road (Bruin PON)
  • Installed 3 pedestals in Sugarloaf PON and 4 pedestals in Guinan PON
  • Pulled 3,696 feet of fiber in Sugarloaf PON
  • Spliced fiber in Boyce PON
  • Completed new drops in Boyce PON this week. Actual totals will be updated next week. (Last week’s totals to-date: 305 total drops – 84 in Werkner PON, 66 in Island Lake PON, 77 in Central Office PON and 78 in Boyce PON)
  • Spliced 0 jobs (totals to-date: 148 spliced – 84 in Werkner PON, 64 in Island Lake PON and 1 in Central Office PON). (Note: Only two splices remain in Werkner and Island Lake PONs.)
  • 0 new home installations (totals to date: 132 with broadband – 79 in Werkner PON, 52 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).  (Note:  No home installations have been scheduled by home owners during the holiday weeks.  Home installations resume on January 7.)
Work to be completed 12/29 through 1/4:
  • 5 to 6 bore crews on-site plus one fiber pull crew and one splicing crew (Note: No work on 12/31/2019 or 1/1/2020.)
  • Bore on Sugarloaf Lake Road (Sugarloaf PON)
  • Bore on Crescent Drive (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Hadley Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Gregory Court (Bruin PON)
  • Continue to install remaining drops in Werkner, Island Lake, Central Office, and Boyce PONs until ground freezes
  • Continue to pull fiber in Sugarloaf PON and splice fiber in Boyce PON
There are four basic phases of work in bringing internet service to your home:
  • Mainline Boring
  • Mainline Fiber Installation
  • Drop Installation (bringing fiber cable from the road to the side of each home)
  • Home Installation (bringing fiber into you home and attaching to network router)

Here is the current status for zones or PONS that are in progress.

Werkner
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 96% (84) complete
Home Installations 90% (79) complete
88 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 94% (66) complete
Home Installations 74% (52) complete
70 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 88% (77) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
88 Subscribers

Boyce
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 99% complete
Drop Installations 63% (78) complete
123 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring 99% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 84% complete
114 Subscribers

Guinan
Mainline Boring 80% complete
40 Subscribers  

Long Lake
Mainline Boring 96% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring 75% complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 34% complete
52 Subscribers