News

Citizens with underground utilities can pre-order

Friday, August 10, 2007
Category: Fiber Optic Network

People who live in neighborhoods with underground utilities received a letter recently about a pre-order service offered by the city of Wilson. Residents are encouraged to send in the business-reply cards included in the letter if they are seriously considering a purchase of broadband Internet, cable TV and/or or phone services when it becomes available in a few months.

The letter was sent only to neighborhoods with underground utilites because the fiber optic network is more difficult to install there. The lines have to be put underground. By pre-ordering service now, homeowners allow us to bury a small pipe (3/4" conduit") under their yard from the curb to their house. This will speed up service availability later and minimize any digging their yard would endure later.

Here is the text of the letter:

Dear City of Wilson Resident,

The City of Wilson is expanding its new fiber to the premises (FTTP) network to launch residential broadband Internet, video and telephone services in our community. You may have seen work crews installing fiber in your neighborhood recently.

Many people have asked for the opportunity to have a fiber line pre-installed to their premises during the initial construction phase. We are happy to fill that request.

We are now accepting pre-orders for broadband, video and/or telephone connections during underground construction in your area.

You will be under no obligation to subscribe to broadband Internet, cable or telephone services when these services become available. However, if you’re interested, submitting a pre-order enables us to install the fiber optic cable in your yard during this initial construction phase. When the service becomes available, we will be able to activate service without disrupting your yard a second time.

Pre-ordering is free. It does not lock you in to service, but it will make the process simpler should you choose to order. We will notify you when service becomes available.

If you’re interested in pre-ordering fiber optic services from the City of Wilson, please complete and return the postage-paid response card included in this envelope.

If you’d like more information, call 296.3312 (M-F, 8:30am-8pm and Saturday 10am-2pm) or visit our customer service locations at City Hall or City Hall at the Mall (Wilson Mall near the food court). We also post frequent updates to the city’s website, wilsonnc.org.