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Construction of Alpine Fusion Network underway in Marquette

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Alpine Communications began construction of its Fusion fiber optic network in Marquette at the start of May. West Union Trenching and Finley Engineering, who are aiding Alpine with the project, have started work in the “Bench” neighborhood first, then will progress toward downtown Marquette. The crew working in the area includes (left to right) Mitchell Ihde, Randy Wacker with Finley Engineering, Steve Lane, Tim Streif, Chad Ruegnitz with Alpine Communications and Nathan Lauer. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

After boring or digging the narrow trench required to install the fiber cable, workers will restore residents’ yards to a condition as close to the original as possible.

 

Residents can contact Alpine with concerns about the work planned for their properties

Alpine Communications began construction of its Fusion fiber optic network in Marquette at the start of May. West Union Trenching and Finley Engineering, who are aiding Alpine with the project, have started work in the “Bench” neighborhood first, then will progress toward downtown Marquette. The project will wrap up in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood, of McGregor, marking Alpine’s first major project to extend Fusion fiber optics into its rural territory.

According to Alpine, the project will take approximately 120 days, with the first 90 days consisting of the construction phase, where cable is installed in the neighborhood. During the second phase, fiber splicers will make all of the connections to the network. The third and final phase is service activation, where Alpine technicians will “cut-over” customers to the new fiber optic network, enabling faster broadband speeds and improved service quality.

Construction hours for the project are between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Residents may see contractors working in the area on Fridays, depending upon the weather.

“Our goal is to treat your property as if it were our own,” stated Alpine Communications. “After boring or digging the narrow trench required to install the fiber cable, we will restore your yard to a condition as close to the original as possible.”

If residents have any specific concerns about the work planned for their property, please contact Alpine at (563) 245-4000.

Alpine Communications expects minimal to no disruption of telephone and Internet service while the fiber optic network is built. 

All Alpine Communications customers in the service area will automatically be part of the Fusion Network upgrade and cannot opt out of the Fusion Network. The company’s old copper network will no longer be maintained and will be retired once service is cut over to fiber. Customers who are happy with their current Alpine Communications services can continue to receive them; they will simply be delivered over fiber instead of copper.

If residents do not currently subscribe to services from Alpine Communications, they are strongly encouraged to allow crews to construct the Fusion Network on their property at this time. 

“There will be charges in the future should you change your mind, not to mention fiber optics can increase the value of your home by about $5,000, according to the Fiber-to-the-Home Council,” Alpine noted. “We hope folks will consider switching to Alpine Communications after construction is completed to take advantage of all the Fusion Network benefits, including blazing-fast unlimited broadband and FusionTV service.”

One of the benefits of fiber, said Alpine, is its increased reliability compared to a copper network. Fiber is less susceptible to corrosion or power surges from lightning and other sources, and its higher stability means less frequent service interruptions.

Fiber also provides customers with access to faster internet speeds. There is virtually unlimited bandwidth capacity, and the annoying buffering or internet slowdowns often experienced during peak usage times will be resolved. In addition, customers will see enhanced performance of online activities, including streaming video, internet TV, video chats, gaming and smart home technology. Fiber will better meet the needs of households with multiple users and devices.

According to Alpine, fiber adds value to homes and communities, as well. Along with the $5,000 increase in home valuation, it levels the playing field, giving businesses in smaller communities the ability to better compete with those in big cities. Opportunities for local economic development can be expanded.

“Fiber-to-the-Home networks help to define successful communities just as good water, power, transportation, public safety, schools and other essential services have done for decades,” said Alpine general manager Chris Hopp. “Our commitment to the vitality of the area along with our desire to meet the needs of our customers is the driving force behind the million-dollar investment we are making in this community.”  

For additional information, visit join.alpinecom.net. Details about construction progress will be regularly posted on the website and on Alpine’s Facebook page.

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