BroadbandBI is a municipally-owned Island-wide fiber optic network that will deliver high-speed Internet service directly to homes and businesses on Block Island.

Everyone who owns real estate on Block Island.

During the registration process the property owner or their agent must grant permission for access to the property in order to coordinate the fiber drop installation. If you do not have authority to grant such permissions, please have the property owner register at this time. Tenants and renters may ultimately be able to set up their own account for service, depending on the installation configuration selected by the owner.

In order for construction to begin, property owners need to first register and submit a service application. Your contact information is reqired for Sertex Broadband to plan and schedule fiber optic cable drops. The sooner properties are registered, the sooner we can move forward with the project schedule.

We will be connecting premises in geographical waves as required make-ready work is completed by Verizon on poles throughout the Island and permitting approvals are in place. You can stay informed about installation status through this website, notices on the Block Island Bulletin Board, email and USPS mail, and in the Block Island Times.

Block Island residents and businesses will be able to sign up through this website. A link to subscribe for service will be added as we move to that phase of the project. Announcements will be made through this website, the Block Island Bulletin Board, email and in the Block Island Times.

"Sertex flags on private premises mark the path fiber conduit will take from the island’s roadways to an individual property. These flags mark the path fiber conduit will take from the island’s roadways to a particular property. \n\n

To get flags, register your property for a fiber drop. If you’ve already registered, no need to take further action at this time. Once your property clears external permitting from DEM/CRMC/DOT, a Sertex customer service representative will contact you first by phone, then by email to schedule a site visit. Scheduling these meetings can take some time as the permitting process is complex. We appreciate your patience. \n\n

Project coordinator Morgan Jeane or her designee will visit your property to mark your proposed conduit path with flags. You’ll work together with Morgan to determine the ideal fiber path for your unique property, then Morgan will place your Sertex flags along the proposed route. After this happens, your property is on Sertex’s list for a conduit installation from the roadway to your premises. Remember, the conduit is not fiber. It is simply the protective pipe that will house the fiber cable when it’s installed at a later date. \n\n

Other utility providers (electric, phone, water, sewer) may visit your property after the Sertex flags are placed and before the conduit is installed. They will mark their own utilities as appropriate with flags or temporary paint to ensure a safe construction environment for all. After our conduit installation crew completes their work at your property, Sertex will remove the Dig Safe flags presently marking underground utilities. \ The timeframe from your Sertex site visit to the completion of drop construction will likely be less than 30 days but may be as long as 60 days."

The network will expand the existing community anchor institution network’s aerial fiber-optic backbone to connect homes and businesses on Block Island. Anyone who wants high-speed internet and related services like streaming TV and telephone should register and subscribe. A fiber connection (known as a “drop”) will run from the backbone to each premises, and in-home equipment will enable end user devices to connect using cables or wirelessly to the network. The network will offer multiple tiers of service, and allow room to expand in the future as individual and community needs evolve.

The undersea cable, and its replacement decades from now, provides a permanent connection for power and internet connectivity to the Island. The on-island fiber network will have a lifespan between 30 to 50 years and possibly longer, based on the history of other fiber optic networks. The fiber itself is warrantied for 25 years.

The electronics that enable fiber service have different life expectations, and the cost of capital equipment replacement is factored into the project’s budget. On-Island electronics, housed in the Town’s Telecommunications Building at 10 Beach Avenue and within residential and business structures, are protected and safe from the elements.

Yes. The network is designed to provide direct service to every occupied premise on the island that chooses to connect. Residents can choose to subscribe from the beginning, sometime later, or not at all. The design also has capacity to provide service to all vacant land parcels identified as buildable.

Both. Fiber will generally connect in the same way each premises receives power and telephone service, either underground or aerially.

No.

The Town will own the network, including all underground and aerial network backbone cabling, cabling that connects each home and business, all network electronics and the equipment used by subscribers to connect to the network. This ownership gives ultimate management and control of the network and services offered over it to the Block Island community.

Whether or not the owner chooses to subscribe, Sertex Broadband installation teams will run a cable called a “drop” from the street to a small weatherproof box on the exterior of each premises close to electrical or telephone wiring connections. We’re doing this because it’s more cost-effective to run drops to all premises at the same time rather than one-by-one as individuals decide to subscribe to service. This is similar to landline phone service and BIPCO power, in that non-subscribers still have cables for those services at their premises.

Click here to download an illustration of standard service drop configuration for single-family homes.

Every owner has the right to refuse permission to run a drop to their premises. But if they choose to connect to broadband at a later date, that owner will bear the full cost to connect. Each property will be different, but costs may be as high as several thousand dollars.

All drops will be installed either overhead or underground. Underground installation will use a technique called micro-trenching to minimize required excavation. (Think scalpel, not bulldozer.) No one needs to be onsite for fiber drop installation. Owners or representatives do need to be present for the interior installation of equipment and services.

Property owners with specific concerns about location or routing should open discussions when Sertex approaches you for permission to run the cable.

If you chose to subscribe, you will need to be present for the installation of inside network cabling and equipment. This will occur once the fiber drop has been installed and will be done by a "clean" crew member who will wear booties covering their shoes inside your premises.

For a typical home, equipment will include: a micro optical network terminal (ONT) with wall mounting bracket, approx. 1.5” x 3.5” x 3.5”; a micro uninterruptible power supply (UPS), approx. 6.4” x 1.69” x 1.96”; and a broadband 1G Wi-Fi router, approx. 9” x 2.5” x 3”. Equipment size may vary for a more complex installation.

Our ISP, Crocker Communications, will arrange for equipment replacement if needed. The Town will retain an inventory of spares on island for that purpose. Manufacturer warranties apply for all equipment.

There is no monthly cost for equipment. To ensure the best customer service experience, each subscriber will have the same equipment, enabling Crocker representatives to troubleshoot user problems efficiently and effectively.

Subscribers who prefer to manage their own networks may do so downstream from the ONT equipment provided.

Sertex Broadband Solutions and Crocker Communications operate the network under contract with the Town of New Shoreham. BroadbandBI monitors the network to ensure optimal functioning, and collaborates as needed to resolve customer issues involving network electronics, and/or network fiber and connections.

National Grid owns and maintains the undersea cable. In general, the deep portions of subsea cables are very reliable. The main risk of damage to subsea cables is in shallower water where they are vulnerable to fishing nets or dropped anchors. They are typically buried deeply enough to mitigate this concern. In the event of damage, National Grid will repair the cable in accordance with its agreement with Deepwater Wind and its legal obligations to provide power to Block Island. It is reasonable to assume that the cable and its replacement, decades from now, will provide a permanent and reliable connection.

The Town is currently deploying a backup microwave connection for the community anchor institution network and may expand that backup capability in the future.

The terminal equipment uses about as much power as a standard Wi-Fi router or other small electronic device.

The network operators and the Town will not monitor or log residents’ internet except if necessary to provide service and troubleshoot. Crocker Communication’s privacy policy is available at https://www.crocker.com/crocker-privacy-and-security-policy-statement/.

Both internet and telephone services are available. The network has the capacity to handle any application, from highly interactive websites to high-definition video. Our offerings and associated costs will appeal to everyone, from simple users to the most sophisticated needs.

BroadbandBI provides internet service. We do not provide television programming but we do offer access to all streaming service providers. Many customers access local TV with a HD antenna and then subscribe to one or more streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, etc) for additional TV, movies and sports.

Yes. These fees will be waived for people who subscribe at the time the network is deployed. After that, the typical installation fee for internet, voice, or internet bundled with voice is $39.95.

Residents and businesses can subscribe to the internet speed tier of their choice, from 25Mbps to 1 Gbps for both upload and download. Initially-available internet speeds and associated service levels include the following. There are no data usage limits or caps.

Speed (Up/Down)	Service Level	Data Limits/Caps
25/25	Best Effort	None
50/50	Best Effort	None
100/100	Best Effort	None
1G/100	Best Effort	None
100/100	Guaranteed	None
1G/1G	Guaranteed	None

Your ideal speed depends on the services you’ll use and how many people and devices will be online concurrently. If you aren’t sure, start with 25Mbps. You can always increase speed if needed.

Your experience using an internet connection depends on your answers to several questions:
• How many devices are connected and in-use simultaneously?
• How many people are streaming video from Netflix, YouTube, or other services?
• Are you using your home WiFi for competitive online gaming?
• Do you frequently need to upload large files?
• Do you regularly stream 4k video, or do you mostly stick to simple online tasks?
• Do you get frustrated easily if your game lags or your webpage takes a while to load?

Unlike typical carrier services, our speeds are symmetric – that means upload and download speeds are the same. A typical carrier may offer 25Mbps download speed, but the upload speed is typically much lower. Upload speeds are important as they impact file uploads to Google Drive, Dropbox, and other services. They also impact video quality when using Facetime, Skype, or Zoom. Here are suggested speeds for 1 to 3 concurrent users/devices:
• Check email and browse the web: 1-5 Mbps
• Stream HD content: 15-25 Mbps
• Stream 4K content and play competitive online games: 40-100 Mbps minimum
• Stream 4K content, play online games, and download very large files: 200+ Mbps minimum

You can get more information on internet speed requirements online. We suggest https://broadbandnow.com/guides/how-much-internet-speed-do-i-need.

Two types of phone service are available. 1) You can choose to subscribe to Crocker’s landline phone service that can be used with your existing phone jacks and landline phones. Or 2) you can subscribe to one of many third-party internet phone service providers (VOIP). Typically with VOIP, you can make calls using either a computer, mobile phone, or a landline phone with an appropriate adapter (sold separately). VOIP calling will use your Internet connection.

Yes.

Yes, you can use your cellular provider’s Wi-Fi calling feature with our fiber internet service as long as you have a compatible handset and you activate the feature with your cellular provider. Check with your provider for further details.

For the end user, E911 will work the same as it does today.

No. You can choose to subscribe to either, both, or neither.

The phone service offered through the fiber network will have the same or better quality than your current service. The choice is up to you. You can 1) keep your existing Verizon landline service, 2) move your current number to our fiber service, or 3) keep your landline number and get a new number for your fiber service. If you’re concerned about power interruptions and the existing eight-hour battery backup isn’t sufficient, you can install a bigger battery, set up a generator, or keep your Verizon landline service.

The fiber network will not provide TV services directly. Our high-speed internet service offers you choices if you have no TV or want to replace or supplement your satellite TV. With a flat screen TV, you can stream ultra-high-definition content from Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Showtime, and many other services. You can also simultaneously stream multiple 4k programs at once while surfing the web and video chatting with people on the mainland.

There also are many video streaming services that deliver live channels over an internet connections. More information about streaming options and resources will be provided on this website in the coming weeks.

If your existing email address is tied to your current internet provider, check with that provider to see if you can keep your email address. If your email is not tied to a provider (for example, Gmail or Yahoo), you can use your existing email regardless of your ISP.

If you wish, you may obtain a static IPv4 address and/or a static block of IPv6 address space for an additional charge.

Fiber-optic cable is a very reliable and well-established technology. The only real danger of service interruption comes from storm damage, generally the result of fallen trees or poles. Our ADTRAN core network equipment is very reliable as well. If and when there is a concern, Sertex and Crocker will respond quickly to fix any problem.

Our network will operate based on net neutrality principals. Services are not prioritized, though Crocker may take steps to ensure consistently high quality phone calls. The Sertex/Crocker team are experienced with avoiding network congestion and ensuring reliable high-speed connections. Our network monitoring software allows Sertex, Crocker and the Town to assess real-time network performance.

Not initially. The fiber network will provide the foundation for the Town to implement public Wi-Fi in the future in the downtown and harbor areas.