Did you know that Fort Collins has officially began offering high speed fiber optic services?
Video from : www.facebook.com/FCConnexion
While it is not yet available in all neighborhoods, it is here!!! According to the Fort Collins website full network construction is in progress and residents can expect to see city crews along with the city approved contractor, Atlantic Engineering Group (AEG), installing fiber in neighborhoods around Fort Collins. Build out to the entire city limits will take the next 36 to 48 months, with the first service occurring in Q3 2019.
Fort Collins Connexion, initiated by a 2017 ballot measure, is the locally managed broadband service our community has wished for. Fort Collins delivers everything your family needs with the integrity and reliability you’ve come to expect from the City of Fort Collins. It is a community-driven, community-owned, gigabit-speed fiber network. Covering all your broadband needs— internet, video, home phone — with service levels and bundling options that fit your needs, without gimmicky promotions or messy contracts.
Fort Collins Connexion promises to follow net neutrality principles, saying it will not “intentionally block, slow down, or charge money for specific websites and online content.” The municipal ISP’s privacy pledge says that it does not “share, distribute, or sell a User’s specific Internet usage history, call history, voicemail, or other electronic data generated from a User’s Internet and phone Service to any external third party.” Connexion’s website is advertising only two residential Internet packages, the $59.95 gigabit plan and a 10Gbps plan for $299.95 a month. There is an optional $15 charge to use city-provided Wi-Fi hardware instead of a customer-purchased router. Connexion offers a gigabit Internet and phone service bundle for $74.90 a month. Phone service on its own starts at $19.95 a month. When TV service is available, there will be an Internet and TV bundle for $119.90 a month, and a bundle of all three services starts at $144.85.
ArsTechnica reports that Connexion’s prices are competitive. Looking at Comcast’s website for offers in Fort Collins today, we found a $60 monthly price for download speeds of up to 400Mbps, and $70 a month for 1Gbps. But those Comcast prices are only good for two years and would automatically rise after the promotional period. Comcast charges early termination fees, and the company says that equipment fees, taxes, other fees, and “applicable charges” may be added to the advertised price. Comcast’s modem/router gateway costs $13 a month.
How will you know if Connexion is available in your neighborhood?
First, to stay up to speed (pun intended!) on this project REGISTER here. Once registered you can also ask questions in the Q&A tab and drop a pin on the PLACES MAP showing where you would like City broadband service. In addition, once construction has been successfully completed and released for go-live, you will receive a door hanger (unless you have a no soliciting sign) an email and a direct mail letter. To ensure you received email notifications, visit their website and complete the form at the bottom of the page.