What to expect?
Building Nex-Tech’s network involves laying hundreds of miles of new fiber-optic cable and will take up to five years to complete. We promise that it will absolutely be worth the wait. Here is what you can expect as we work to connect Great Bend.
Fiber Project Phases
Visit our map for updates on the process for each zone.
Phase 1 - Interest
Do you want to bring fiber to your neighborhood? Great! This phase of the project only requires you to provide basic information to Nex-Tech to show that you are interested in having fiber in your neighborhood zone. Each zone must reach a 55% interest level to advance to the next phase.* You can fill out the interest form here. Please note, showing your interest does not mean that you are entering in to a contract or committing to services. Go ahead, tell us today that you are fiber ready! You have everything to gain!
Phase 2 - Sign-Up
Congratulations! Your neighborhood has reached 55% interest and qualifies to move to the sign-up phase! Now you will select your services with Nex-Tech including Internet, local phone service and/or Nex-Tech’s streaming service, TV Now. At this phase, you will pay a $25 registration fee. The $25 shows Nex-Tech you are serious about having our services and are truly committed. When you subscribe to services, your $25 fee will be applied towards your first bill. Nex-Tech will refund your $25 payment if we do not proceed with a fiber build in your neighborhood. Questions about the services? Don’t worry, our local customer service team will help you each step of the way! To proceed to the pre-construction phase, all those that showed interest will need to sign up for services.
Phase 3 - Pre-Construction
You get fiber; how exciting! This phase of the project is when our team of engineers and surveyors will hit the streets to help map out the plan to bring our construction team in so the fiber can be installed. This phase can take weeks or months as we work to finalize diagrams, prepare maps and all of the specifications of the project so that we are able to build fiber to your home in the most efficient, safe and timely manner possible!
Phase 4 - Construction
Time to roll out the fiber. This phase gets us one step closer to the end of the fiber process. This is when our construction crew will come to your home with the equipment needed to place the fiber in the ground and connect it to your home. Prior to any work being done at your home, you will be contacted by an engineer to determine cable placement. We will install a splice point on the outside of the home. This is necessary so that the fiber underground can be transitioned to the small fiber that is used within your home. Kansas One will have marked out underground lines and or pipes that we need to be aware of, so that the installation can go as smoothly as possible. Please note that Kansas One will NOT be marking out underground items that were installed by other companies, you or a pervious homeowner. Examples would be sprinkler systems, security systems and etc.
Phase 5 - Schedule Install
It’s time to launch! The construction is complete. It is time for one of Nex-Tech’s professional technicians to install your fiber services. Nex-Tech’s local customer service team will contact you to schedule an installation time. Inside your home we will install an Optical Network Terminal (ONT), a power supply, and Internet subscribers will receive a dual-band wireless enabled Internet modem to provide powerful Wi-Fi connectivity throughout your home. The modem is included with your subscription to Protection Plus. Installation of all cable and equipment is provided free of charge. During installation, the technician will make sure everything is running correctly and educate you on the new resources that fiber has made available to your home!
Phase 6 - Fiber is complete!
Enjoy this state-of-the-art Nex-Tech technology in your home for years to come! Remember, if you get in a hiccup and need help, our local help desk team is happy to help in anyway possible! Just give us a call, 1-888-565-3200.
*If your neighborhood zone does not reach the required interest level, your neighborhood may instead be serviced with a hybrid wireless Internet solution. That’s why it’s important for you and your neighbors to show your interest in fiber!
The Building Process
To build the Great Bend network, we’re placing new fiber optic cable in the ground. Imagine how many miles of streets are in Great Bend or even just in your neighborhood. There are hundreds of miles of fiber to be laid. That’s a lot of ground to cover, one foot of fiber at a time.
Before we can lay fiber in the ground or bring in construction equipment, we must map where all existing infrastructure is including wires, pipes, water lines, electric lines and sewer. A team of engineers and surveyors will also hit the streets to fill in any missing details, which can take weeks or months.
We also spend a lot of time developing a construction plan and working with local authorities on permitting and other issues. Once a zone qualifies for fiber service, there is more design, engineering and staking work to be done.
After we have a solid plan including diagrams, detailed maps, and specs for every aspect of the project, we start building our network. That’s when you’ll see crews in the streets with their trucks, boring machines, and rolls of conduit and fiber.
We follow the required process for marking the locations where each utility is supposed to be. This helps our construction crews when they are digging. You might see orange, blue, red, or yellow paint on sidewalks, streets, or even on your grass. Those are locating marks.
Private Property Access
Our franchises, which are issued by a state or local government, give us the right to build our network in public rights-of-ways and easements in a particular jurisdiction. Where applicable, we separately secure the rights to construct on private property, such as in a multi-family apartment building, in a gated community, or across a private road.
Weathering the Weather
Even under the best of circumstances, some things can slow us down that are out of our control, such as: weather and more weather. We still work outside when the weather doesn’t cooperate, but sometimes it is just impossible. Consider when you notice most road construction. You see more of that in spring and summer than in fall or winter. Usually, you won’t see road construction on snowy or rainy days. This pattern is similar for Fiber construction. Nearly everything stops or slows down in bad weather, including fiber network construction.
There is just not enough daylight sometimes. Construction permits are usually only valid for certain days of the week and may limit times of the day crews can work. We might have enough crews to work longer days or over the weekends, but we must comply with the local restrictions.
Home Installation
Fiber will be brought to your home by placing cable in the ground. Prior to any work being done at your home, you will be contacted by an Engineer to determine cable placement. We will install a Network Interface Device (NID) on the outside of the home to connect the fiber to your home. Inside your home, we will install an Optical Network Terminal (ONT), a power supply, and a wireless enabled Internet modem which is included with your subscription to Protection Plus. Installation of all cable and equipment is provided free of charge.
Network Interface Device (NID)
The NID is installed on the exterior of your home.
9.5″ x 2.5″ x 11.5″
Optical Network Terminal (ONT)
The Optical Network Terminal (ONT) converts the optical signal coming through the fiber into separate signals for TV, voice, and data.
6.5″ x 1.5″ x 7″
Gigacenter Router
The router will be positioned inside your home in a location that optimizes the wireless network coverage.
8″ x 1.75″ x 11.25″
Power Supply / Battery Backup
The battery backup power supply is installed when you subscribe to telephone and Protection Plus services. It will be placed inside your home, usually in a supply room or closet.
Order of Installation
Occasionally one or two homes on a street don’t get installed until weeks or months after the rest of the street is installed. This can be confusing to residents, and your patience is always appreciated. There are a couple of reasons this might happen:
- Property access may be an issue. Sometimes we can’t get onto the property for some reason.
- Unforeseen circumstances can arise. We wish we could prepare for every unexpected obstacle, but sometimes there are unique conditions at a particular address that affect our ability to install Nex-Tech Fiber.