Rock Island has been busy for the last 10 years installing the base infrastructure for our fiber and other internet connection options throughout the County.
As a REALTOR, I can state that internet reliability is discussed as part of every real estate transaction. Now more than ever, Islanders, as well as newcomers need to be connected and they desire their families to visit and, of course, the children and grand kids must have their devices.
There are several avenues for consumers to obtain Internet service in our County and they include the following:
• Dialup. Internet through the Century Tel telephone lines, which is very slow service. Basically obsolete.
• DSL. Internet through Century Tel telephone lines and the level of service depends on your distance from the central office; 0.5 to 2 megabits per second is typical, but they will sell you 10 which a few people on San Juan do receive. The service is inconsistent and dependent on well-maintained copper lines and the most unfortunate event is you must work with a non-local office of Century Tel. Either Rock Island or The Computer Place can also provide the DSL service using the Century Tel telephone line, which is what I recommend, if DSL is your only option.
• Starlink. This service requires exposure to the northwest with minimal tree interference. There is no local representative from Starlink to assist you, but they do have an app. You can use your phone to check the connectivity at the installation spot you have in mind. Starlink sends you the kit with the antenna, router and wire and then you buy extra mesh units if you need to spread the connection to distant areas on your property. Starlink gives you a free 30-day trial to make sure that their connectivity functions at your property. We installed ours on our garage roof and it works well. We hired a roofer to mount the antenna as neither of us is qualified to be up on the roof at this time in our lives. Our download is approximately 80 and our upload is 15. We can process everything we need to.
• Other Satellite Service. Internet through a satellite connection. The level of service can be up to 25 megabits but the delays in signal are significant and high data costs are an issue.
• LTE from Rock Island. Rock Island partnered with T-Mobile to build 40 cell sites in the County with 13 on San Juan. Service speed is 10-25 megabits for $80 per month. They have a seasonal rate for this service of $59 if you do not live here full time. T-Mobile really stepped up as compared to Verizon and AT&T who only have 2-4 towers in the County.
Further, Rock has been addressing the slowdowns that were occurring by updating the 5G network and increasing the capacity. Now more than ever, with many of us working out of the home, these upgrades were very timely.
• Fiber Optic from Rock Island - Internet service with 30-1,000 megabits per second; the gold standard. Reliable and scalable. $80-$180 per month based on the speed you select. They have seasonal rates for this service starting at $55.
In addition, Rock Island has access to Federal Grants that are intended to provide fiber to the more remote locations in our County which normally would cost the consumer Tens of Thousands of dollars, not affordable to most, other than via this program. It is the goal of our government to provide everyone with internet connectivity.
• In town Internet. You have numerous options in town and depending on your needs, you should check with Rock Island.
How do we get it?
Visit the Rock Island website or email fiber@Rockisland.com to see if your property or the property you intend to purchase is within a service area. Rock Island has installed fiber to the majority of the main roads and in the various towns throughout the County, but it is the homeowners or subdivision homeowner association’s responsibility to arrange for the fiber to be installed in the side roads and to the actual residences. The “middle and last mile” as it is known in the industry.
Rock Island, a wholly owned subsidiary but operating as a separate entity from OPALCO, provides Internet service to islanders. Rock Island does not offer triple play for HD pay TV.
Many of our neighborhood plats are already serviced with fiber. As a group they organized to arrange for the installation charges via loans or special assessments. This approach allowed all property owners in the area to share in the middle mile costs and then the individual homeowners absorb the cost to install down their driveways. Rock Island also has an incentive credit available to the last mile installations. The costs to connect to fiber varies, but $3,500-$5,000 is a good average estimate. Generally, the trenching cost per foot is $20-$25.
One program that everyone should check into is the Federal Funding Program, which is available to encourage energy savings and can include a fiber component. OPALCO deploys these federal funds through their “Switch It Up” program to save energy costs such as a NEST system and they can include the last mile fiber installation in the package. The homeowner can access those funds via the program and payments are made to OPALCO via monthly installments on your power bill at 2% for 10 years. This brings fiber to your home plus energy saving systems with an affordable loan. You can also install solar panels, mini splits or other energy savings devices under the program. This program alone should encourage homeowners to hook up to fiber.
The neighborhoods who come together, whether they are an organized HOA or just a group of individuals get fiber faster and will be placed in the queue. Individuals can connect as well, so call Rock Island at 360-378-5884 to inquire about your internet options. Where functional, Rock Island has provided the LTE option to neighbors within an area as well.
Rock Island’s fiber optic internet monthly fees range from $80-$180 subject to the speed you select. There is also a one-time hookup fee of $150. Digital phone can be added for just under $20 a month with the OOMA service.
Most of the resorts in the County such as Roche Harbor and Snug Harbor and many others have all entered a business service relationship with Rock Island to offer fiber to their guests with ongoing service and upgrades. Those resorts offer internet and telephone services to the transient population staying at their facilities and marinas. The resorts recognize having high speed Internet as their number one guest amenity. Guests stay longer when they can keep connected to their work and family.
As property owners, we need to be the ones that accept the responsibility and bring strong internet connection to our homes. We need the level of communication, safety and entertainment that it offers. I need good connectivity as I am a grandma, plus I need to process real estate out of my home office.
If your plans include purchasing a property in the islands, while you are making your site inspection, do a speed test. You may need the wireless code to sign on to the seller’s service to process the test. I use a Speedtest by Ookla app, as it works well in our area.
Advice: If you are constructing a home, remodeling or just excavating on your site, it is prudent to install conduit for fiber even if you do not plan on actually hooking up to the service. You can get that free from Rock Island by using their conduit request form found online (https://rockisland.com/construction-info/)
If your neighborhood is doing any excavation for roads or water lines, the homeowner’s association should contact Rock Island about installing fiber.
The islands have always strived not to become a place of “those that have and those that have not”. Historically we have always applied that to not wanting to develop into a location such as Martha’s Vineyard or Jackson Hole. It may be time to consider that the “have nots” will be those homes without good Internet service.
As a REALTOR, I know that buyers now include whether a home has good internet service as part of their criteria. Having good connectivity is imperative and all property owners should take advantage of the Rock Island programs.
By: Merri Ann Simonson
Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc.
cell 360-317-8668
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