Q. How does the work you are doing to install the fibre network affect my property?
There are two main methods of installing fibre: hanging it aerially, or burying it underground. Sometimes, it requires a combination of the two. It depends upon the area, the property and ground as to which method is used. But even when we have to bury the equipment, the work will not affect your property in any significant way. It is our goal to restore all property to the previous condition per municipal guidelines.
Q. What are the paint lines/flags used for and how will they be removed?
The paint lines and flags mark the approximate location of buried utilities.
Taking precautions before installing the new fibre cable is vital. Before we begin digging, we hire a company to locate and mark where existing utility infrastructure lies. We also return to mark your actual property once it’s time to connect the fibre to your home. The paint helps us ensure we are drilling and installing the new conduit safely away from utilities. The paint is water based; therefore, it dissolves after a few weeks. Following some rainfall or cutting of the grass, there should be no trace. Flags will be removed by the construction technicians once the work is completed.
The most likely inconvenience is the installation of a small flush-to-the-ground ‘flower pot’ to house a temporary conduit connection. This flower pot will be removed once the new conduit is connected and buried to the home.
If your home has a conduit already in place, and is usable, we will simply pull the fibre through. We will restore any impact to your property once the work is complete and the weather permits. If your grass has been disturbed, we will clean the area and plant grass seed.
Q. Do you cut into driveways, and if so, how do the crews repair them?
We will avoid cutting driveways unless absolutely necessary. If we need to cut into your driveway, it will typically entail cutting a small ‘coring’ hole. These holes are repaired afterwards, usually by filling in the holes with new concrete. The repair depends on the size and scope of the work, so we will determine the necessary work required to repair the area on a case-by-case basis.
Q. What is the process to get fibre to the point of access in the house? Do they still need to dig up my lawn to get the fibre to my house?
Depending on the area, we will either build a connection underground or install it aerially. For an underground installation, we drill a path for a conduit pipe to run from the below ground ‘flower pot’ box we install, to the house. The drilling is conducted using either a small plow or compact drilling machinery. Both are relatively non-intrusive with very little ground disturbance, as opposed to excavating your lawn with large machinery. There are instances where a service box is required to be installed in addition to the temporary flower pot. In these instances, we make every effort to install this service box in the City’s boulevard.
If there is no boulevard space available, the service box has to be installed in the utility right-of-way. For an aerial installation, we connect a fibre cable from the termination point along the aerial network (typically installed next to a pole and attached to the aerial strand) and directly to the house. A small termination box is installed onto the side of the house. From there, a different kind of fire-resistant, bend-insensitive fibre is installed and attached to the active equipment inside the customer’s home for safety and ease of connection.
It is unlikely your lawn will be significantly impacted. In most cases, we will employ a less intrusive process of using a small vibrating plow or compact directional drill. Sometimes, small holes need to be dug along the route. A small hole will be dug at the base of the termination location to bring the conduit up and into the termination box.
Q. What is a Utility Right of Way
The majority of construction for this project will take place on public boulevards and utility rights-of-way.
A portion of most yards are made up of a 'utility right of way.' This is an easement of private land that allows the City and utility companies access to buried utilities. It is typically located directly behind the sidewalk or curb, and occasionally located along a back alley. Most “utility right of ways” are 2.5-4m wide.
