Updates

Construction Update 2-23 to 3-7

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 2/23/2020 through 2/29/2020:
  • 5 bore crews on-site (No work on February 26 or 27 due to weather.)
  • Bored 850 feet on Stofer Road (Wild Goose PON)
  • Bored 184 feet on Ellsworth Lake Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 1 pedestal in Guinan PON
  • Completed 0 new home installation (totals to date: 151 with broadband – 87 in Werkner PON, 63 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall))
  • Lyndon Township Broadband Engineer finalized Werkner, Island Lake, Central Office and Boyce PONs punchlist (remaining items) for H&M to complete
  • Lyndon Township Board reviewed and voted on sole source justification to transfer remaining splicing, cable pulling, and pedestal preparation from H&M to MEC
Work to be completed 3/1/2020 through 3/7/2020:
  • 4 to 5 bore crews on-site
  • Bore on Stofer Road (Island Lake PON) – new section added based on re-engineered drawings
  • Bore on Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Crescent Drive (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Ellsworth Lake Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Complete remaining boring
  • Complete installation of remaining pedestals
  • Continue to reconfigure and/or repair splicing and pedestal prep in Central Office PON
  • Home installations expected to resume in 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 98% (87) complete
(Note: Remaining 2 home installations are not ready for service)
89 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete (except for added Stofer Road section)
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 94% (63) complete
(Note: Remaining 4 home installations are either not ready for service or additional drop work needed)
67 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 93% (80) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
86 Subscribers

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

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installation 3% (3) complete
114 Subscribers

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

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

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

Bruin
Mainline Boring 97% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 92% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 98% complete
90 Subscribers

Construction Update 2-16 to 2-29

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 2/16/2020 through 2/22/2020:
  • 5 bore crews on-site
  • Bored 66 feet on Hadley Road (Wild Goose PON)
  • Bored 420 feet on Goodband Road (Wild Goose PON)
  • Bored 134 feet on Hadley Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 198 feet on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 276 feet on Ellsworth Lake Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bored 1,163 feet on Roepke Court (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 3 pedestals in Wild Goose PON, 1 pedestal in Bruin PON, 5 pedestals in Joslin PON and 14 pedestals in Ellsworth PON
  • Completed 1 new home installation (totals to date: 151 with broadband – 87 in Werkner PON, 63 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
Work to be completed 2/23/2020 through 2/29/2020:
  • 5 bore crews on-site
  • Bore on Stofer Road (Island Lake PON) – new section added based on re-engineered drawings
  • Bore on Stonehill Drive (Long Lake PON)
  • Bore on Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Blind Lake Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Ellsworth Lake Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Continue to install remaining pedestals
  • Lyndon Township Broadband Engineer to finalize Werkner, Island Lake, Central Office and Boyce PONs punchlist (remaining items) for H&M to complete
  • Lyndon Township Board to review and vote on sole source justification to transfer remaining splicing, cable pulling, and pedestal preparation from H&M to MEC (Approved Februrary 25)
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 98% (87) complete
(Note: Remaining 2 home installations are not ready for service)
89 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete (except for added Stofer Road section)
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 94% (63) complete
(Note: Remaining 4 home installations are either not ready for service or additional drop work needed)
67 Subscribers

Central Office
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations 93% (80) complete
Home Installations 1% (1) complete
86 Subscribers

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

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installation 3% (3) complete

114 Subscribers

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

Long Lake
Mainline Boring complete

Mainline Fiber Installation 64% complete
80 Subscribers

Wild Goose
Mainline Boring complete

Mainline Fiber Installation 24% complete
45 Subscribers

Bruin
Mainline Boring 78% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 79% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 98% complete
90 Subscribers

Construction update 2-9 to 2-22

Areas referenced below can be located on this map
Work completed 2/9/2020 through 2/15/2020:
  • 6 bore crews on-site (Note: No work on 2/13 due to weather.)
  • Bored 695 feet on Hadley Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 435 feet on Crows View (Joslin PON)
  • Bored 1,515 feet on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bored 274 feet on Roepke Court (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 6 pedestals in Wild Goose PON
  • Completed 2 new home installation (totals to date: 150 with broadband – 86 in Werkner PON, 63 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
Work to be completed 2/16/2020 through 2/22/2020:
  • 5 to 6 bore crews on-site
  • Bore on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Hadley Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Court (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 97% (86) complete
(Note: Remaining 3 home installations are not ready for service)
89 Subscribers

Island Lake
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installations complete
Home Installations 94% (63) complete
(Note: Remaining 4 home installations are either not ready for service or additional drop work needed)
67 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 complete
Drop Installations complete
126 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation complete
Drop Installation 3% (3) complete
114 Subscribers

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

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

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

Bruin
Mainline Boring 76% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 79% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 95% complete
90 Subscribers

Construction Update 2-2 to 2-15

Areas referenced below can be located on this map

 Work completed 2/2/2020 through 2/8/2020:
  • 6 bore crews on-site (Note: No work on 2/6 and 2/7 due to weather.)
  • Bored 588 feet on Coon Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bored 1,352 feet on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bored 881 feet on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Installed 4 pedestals in Joslin PON and 2 pedestals in Bruin 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 1 new home installation (totals to date: 148 with broadband – 84 in Werkner PON, 63 in Island Lake PON, and 1 in Central Office PON (Township Hall)).
  • Redressed pedestals on South M-52 in Central Office PON.
Work to be completed 2/9/2020 through 2/15/2020:
  • 6 bore crews on-site
  • Bore on Bruin Lake Road (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Gregory Court (Bruin PON)
  • Bore on Homewild Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Drive (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Joslin Lake Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Hadley Road (Joslin PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Road (Ellsworth PON)
  • Bore on Roepke Court (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% (84) complete
90 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 complete
Drop Installations complete
126 Subscribers

Sugarloaf
Mainline Boring complete
Mainline Fiber Installation 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 76% complete
52 Subscribers

Joslin
Mainline Boring 72% complete
58 Subscribers

Ellsworth
Mainline Boring 94% complete
90 Subscribers

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.