BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
Issue link: https://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/145944
FTTH Case sTudy Fiber to the Home In a Planned Community Issaquah Highlands was one of the frst master-planned communities to have a fber-to-the-home network. More than a decade later, the network is still going strong. By Dan Sivils / ISOMEDIA C ommunity fber networks are not commonplace – yet – but people increasingly see them as a viable option for getting the Internet services they want. A community fber network can often deliver faster, better Internet service, mainly because the network serves a small number of people living in an enclosed community. Large cable and telephone companies often pack too many residences onto network connections that lack enough capacity to give great service to all of them. Even in this technologically advanced time, many people complain about not being able to access the speed and service levels they need. Operating and managing a community network is costly, so it's usually necessary for all residents to sign up for Internet service. Te initial cost of creating a community fber network can run into the millions of dollars and take more than 30 years to pay of. Te good news? Eventually, the community owns and controls a major asset. THE ISSAqUAH HIgHlANDS STORy Located about 17 miles east of Seattle, Wash., the planned community of Issaquah is well-known for its natural beauty. Issaquah Highlands is a village located within Issaquah, but it is a separate community. Te frst homes were built in 1998. Surrounded by parks and trails, this picturesque urban village has developed into a highly sought-after community. 20 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | Issaquah Highlands ofers plenty of room (2,000 acres), and its 3,750 homes shelter more than 7,000 people. From the outset, builders concentrated on making sure that progressive thinking and awareness of current technology infuenced the construction of every home. Te initial focus was on making the homes as energy efcient as possible. Even though the turn of the century was just a couple of years away, not every building planner or developer had experience with a project like Issaquah Highlands, and construction of the Issaquah Highland houses became a new standard to compare other homes to. For many years, people would use Issaquah Highlands as an example of sustainable development practices. FIBER FOR HIgHlANDS HOMES Te idea of adding a fber optic network to Issaquah Highlands arose when some early, tech-savvy residents requested it upon moving into their new homes. A dedicated fber network seemed like a perfect addition to the community, and the Highlands Fiber Network is one of the oldest fber-to-the-home networks in the United States. HFN chose fber to "future proof" itself and avoid relying on cable companies or telcos. Residents have enjoyed fber-to-the-home services since 1998. Te maximum speed initially was 1.5 Mbps – considered high speed at the time – and increased over the years to 55 July 2013