Making Connections: Helping Broadband Go-Live

The PUD has reached a milestone, with more than 400 in-home broadband installations as fiber crews work northward from the Quilcene area. Creating a 10-Gig network from the ground-up requires far more than what’s seen in the field.

It all begins in the backend. With more than 4000 registered fiber customers (both current and future construction) in the system, every property must be accounted for. Staff dig deep into databases and customer records to track buildout progress.  

To date, 864 homes have received network boxes with fiber ready for signal testing. Splicing and testing is a vital step to ensure connectivity before going live with service.

With fiber live, attention shifts to service plans. The ball is now in the customer’s court with registration taking place online, but questions still arise and that’s where the intern steps in. Throughout the summer, the PUD’s Communications and Broadband intern has called nearly 500 customers, assisting with plan selection and in-home install scheduling. One-on-one conversations ensure each household gets the right connection for their needs, whether through the PUD’s in-house internet plans or via a qualified internet service provider.  

Crews continue rolling out fiber in neighborhoods from Quilcene to Gardiner, and fiber techs are on track to wrap up in-home installs by winter. From there, the PUD team will shift to the next project areas where contract crews have begun planning routes to homes in the Jefferson North and Discovery Bay East fiber zones.

Meet the Intern: Ahwrey Scarpinato: Ahwrey is a 2024 Port Townsend High graduate who attends Texas A&M located in the town of College Station between Dallas and Houston, TX. He is majoring in Political Science with double minors in Business and Communications. Beyond his internship and the classroom, Ahwrey stays active with soccer, hiking, and theater.