Orange County August 2020 Updates

PROJECT UPDATES

Eno: We completed service in the Stonegate community in the Eno area. This was our first project south of I40/85 and we’re pleased to report over half of the neighborhood signed up and receives our broadband service.

Schley Tower : We’ve completed all the tower owner process steps, and received final clearance from the FAA on our frequency use. The county permit application in is process, and once done, we expect to start installations in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for further updates.

Cedar Grove Farms: Equipment arrived for the projects on Efland Cedar Grove Rd and the Lloyd’s Dairy Barn on Hwy 70 in Efland. Silo installations are scheduled to start next week and we expect to be installing customers shortly thereafter.

The Cedar Grove Farms location will give us additional coverage in the lower Lake Orange area and in the area of Governor Scott Rd. The northern part of the Lake will begin after the Cedar Grove silo is completed and will cover the western and eastern side of the peninsula.

The Lloyd’s Dairy Barn will provide coverage to the southern area of Brookhollow Rd and points east and south of that and also along Hwy 70 heading west.

MicroPop

A MicroPop can take a source signal and distribute a fixed wireless signal to a surrounding area to provide connectivity to neighbors who would otherwise not be able to obtain a signal.

But online classes are resuming and
I can’t wait any longer for fast internet…

For our prospective customers that we are not able to provide fixed wireless coverage to at the current time, Open Broadband is offering a 4G LTE cellular based technology that offers High Speed Internet with 200 GB of data usage. Speeds vary from 15 Mbps to over 50 Mbps

Features and Benefits

No contract, No credit check, No additional taxes or fees
200 GB per month and No throttling*
Fixed monthly fee
Uses the same onlne billing platform as our fixed-wireless service. No overage fees.
Connect up to 10 wireless connections at a time and use the LAN port for hard wired connections.
Supported by Open Broadband’s 24×7 Technical Support
Cancel at any time
Once fixed-wireless is available you will be able to switch between the plans

This system is similar to what our fixed wireless system offers but is provided through a cellular connection from towers that are within your vicinity. The equipment is comprised of a wireless router connected to an exterior mounted directional antenna** for optimum throughput. Installation is similar to that of our fixed-wireless service, and you will continue to be supported by our 24×7 call center in North Carolina.

Unlike our fixed-wireless service, the system is portable, so you can take it with you anywhere you can obtain a cellular signal.

PRICING

Monthly Fee – $149.99
Installation – $135.00 (one time fee)
Cancel anytime, no contract

* Once you use 200 GB you may experience reduced speeds
** The Yagi antenna is not required for stationary or portable use.but is recommended for best signal strength

You will be contacted once fixed-wireless service is available

Once service is available at your address, we will contact you to schedule a signal test to ensure sufficient wireless signal for broadband.

Once the signal level is confirmed we’ll set up an in-home installation appointment. A team of installers will set up the system, attaching an antenna to the exterior of your house in addition to an interior gateway device.

If we have not contacted you that means service is not available yet. Please be patient and we will contact you when we can schedule your address. We will provide as much advance notice as possible.

If your neighbors have not joined the signup list, encourage them to do so.

We’ve expanded our Team

We’re pleased to welcome Ian and Clint to our field operations team. You may meet them as they are performing signal tests and performing installation.

As we continue to sign up more customers and expand our coverage, we will further expand our Team and interview candidates for Part Time positions of surveyors and installers.

Interested candidates can view our job postings and apply via our website careers page: https://careers.openbb.net/

A big Thank You to all of our customers in Orange County! This is a long journey to build a new network from scratch, using fixed-wireless technology in a challenging terrain. We believe everyone deserves access to broadband speeds and our small company is doing our part to fill in gaps where the 50-100 year old large companies have not implemented.

Thank you for your patience and support, while we continue to develop solutions to provide High Speed Broadband to your area and we look forward to serving many more of you throughout the year.

A Reminder Message from Open Broadband concerning COVID-19

Staying connected even when apart

COVID-19 has brought many changes to our communities, affecting the ways we live, work and interact. But throughout these changes, one thing has stayed constant: Our determination to serve you and your internet needs in a safe manner.

Working in your community

As one of the many essential services responding to this national emergency, our work continues – even in those areas with stay-at-home ordinances. You may still see some of our field technicians working in and around your neighborhood. Their work is helping to ensure that residential communities, businesses and critical facilities have the internet they need throughout this time.

As a precaution, if you do see our workers, please avoid approaching them and their work areas. If there is a need to speak with them, be aware that they will be maintaining at least 6 feet of separation. We’ll also be keeping this recommended distance anytime direct interaction for essential services is required on customer properties, inside homes and businesses, consistent with CDC and other public health guidelines.