Q: What is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
A: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was enacted to preserve and create recovery, assist those most impacted by the recession, provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health, invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other State and local government budgets, in an effort to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services.
Q: How are Baca Valley Telephone Company, Inc. and Sierra Communications, Inc. involved in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009?
A: ENMR-Plateau and Baca Valley Telephone Company are project partners working to enhance broadband capabilities for critical Community Anchor Institutions in eastern New Mexico by installing new fiber facilities in five communities, including Raton.
Q: How does this benefit our community?
A: The project connects Community Anchor Institutions at speeds of up to 1 Gbps and will have the capability to:
Q: What is fiber?
A: Fiber optic cable is the latest innovation in the telecommunications industry. Inside each fiber optic cable are strands of optically pure glass, thinner than a human hair, which carry digital information over long distances. Digital signals are sent as pulses of light down the glass fibers, without interference or limitation. Homes and businesses connected with fiber use the most advanced communications technology available. This digital transport system is faster, clearer and more reliable. Fiber optic cable provides the required amount of bandwidth to access the digital communications services of the future, like digital TV services. It is also capable of Internet speeds up to and even beyond 100 Mbps.
Q: Do I have to pay extra for the fiber?
A: No.
Q: What are the advantages of fiber?
A: Advantages include…
Q: Do I need a modem with FTTP Internet service?
A: No, your fiber connection does not require a modem. With traditional DSL, phone and Internet service share the same wires inside the home. With fiber-to-the-premise, you plug your computer network cable directly into our optical network device mounted on the outside of your home, and you are connected instantly and directly to the fiber network. Therefore, you do not have to purchase a new modem.
Q: Does my home or business need to be wired differently to take advantage of fiber-to-the-premise?
A: With traditional DSL, phone and Internet service share the same telephone wires. With fiber-to-the-premise, the two services require separate wires (one for phone, one for Internet) going from the electronics box on the outside of your house to your phone or computer jacks on the inside. If your home was built after 2006, it was most likely built using wiring that is compatible with FTTP, so there should not be any additional wiring needed. If your home is older, there is a good chance we will need to run some new wiring in your home. As part of the conversion to FTTP, our technicians will run the necessary wiring to make your high-speed Internet service work the way it should at no additional cost to you.
