Hey neighbors! We all know how crucial the internet is these days, whether we’re working from home, binge-watching our favorite shows, or catching up with friends and family.

But let’s be honest, our current internet options are starting to lag behind. Have you been experiencing slow download speeds, frequent internet dropouts, or lagging/buffering while streaming video or playing games? This is very likely due to our aging copper lines - the physical cable that brings an internet connection to your house. Using coaxial (the same cable that brings you a television signal) dates back all the way to the 90s, with some DSL connections still using decades-old telephone lines!

It’s about time we upgrade our street to Fibre-Optic internet, and we need your help to make it happen.

What is Fibre-Optic Internet?

 

Glad you asked. Here’s the difference between our old coaxial cable (or even DSL) internet and new Fibre-to-the-Home (or FTTH) internet in a way that’s understandable.

Imagine this: let’s say you need to send a large file to your friend. Regular cable internet is like having to send that file in many small packets, one at a time. It’s slow and inefficient. This is our current internet system on our street - we want to download, stream, and do more tasks online, but our current infrastructure can only handle so much.

On the other hand, fibre internet is like sending the entire file in one go. It’s much faster and more reliable. Basically, Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) means that the internet connection goes all the way from the internet provider’s central office directly to your house. This gives you the fastest and most reliable internet connection possible.

And the best part is, the new fibre plans give you exactly the speeds you’re paying for.

 

Why Fibre Optic?

 

Fibre-Optic internet is a huge upgrade over our existing cable internet. Here’s why:

 • Blazing-Fast Speeds - Say goodbye to buffering! Fibre delivers download and upload speeds that leave cable and DSL in the dust, so you can stream, game, and work without any lag.

 • Super Reliable - This means no more slowdowns during peak hours and fewer connection issues requiring technician repairs. Fibre-optic cables are immune to weather conditions and won’t lose speed over long distances, unlike our old copper lines.

 • Equal Upload & Download - Whether you’re uploading family photos, live streaming games or hosting a Zoom call, fibre gives you equal upload and download speeds, so everything runs smoothly without issues.

 • Future-Proof - Fibre is built to handle the internet of tomorrow, which means you won’t need another upgrade for a long, long time. It’s designed to support more users, faster speeds, and the ever-growing demands of modern life.

Why Grand River Boulevard?

We’re already a fantastic street, but imagine how much better it would be with lightning-fast internet that can keep up with us.

 

By upgrading Grand River Boulevard to full fibre, we can:

 

 • Boost property values (yes, you read that right) and make our area even more appealing to potential homeowners and small businesses.

 • Support our local economy by enabling faster connections for remote workers, students, and home businesses.

 • Create a smarter, more connected neighborhood where everyone has access to the very best in internet technology.

 

How will Fibre internet be installed?

 

Once an internet provider like Bell or Rogers decides to expand their fibre optic network to our street (and possibly the entire neighborhood!), they would start by installing a metal box/cabinet called a Fibre Distribution Hub (FDH) in the area. This serves as a central point for distributing the fibre connections to individual homes. 

Then, underground fibre cables would be installed running parallel to people's homes. This would involve contractors moving along the street with equipment to lay down these new fibre cables - the timeframe could vary from a couple of weeks to a month at most.

The street installation is a minimally-invasive process designed to protect lawns, gardens, and the overall appearance of your neighborhood. This allows the cables to be installed *without* disturbing your driveway or any type of surfacing that you have installed in front of your house.

 

As soon as you receive communication that fibre is available on the street, call the respective internet provider to confirm that you'd like your house connected to the new fibre grid (just a heads up, you must be the legal homeowner of the house to give permission for installation). Once you give permission, the agent will schedule an installation date for the fibre lines to be hooked up to the side of your house. This whole process does not require you to be home.

 

Here’s the process:

 1. Planning and Mapping

Before any work begins, technicians conduct a thorough survey of the area. They carefully map out the existing utility lines (gas, water, electricity, etc.) to ensure the fibre cables can be installed without interfering with anything.

 2. Laying the Fibre Cables

Fibre optic cables are installed underground using a method called “micro-trenching” or horizontal-directional drilling. These methods involve creating a narrow trench or tunnel under the surface to lay the cable. The cable will run all the way up under the soil to the side of your house, where a technician will install a rectangular box on the exterior. This is where the cable ends and will be fed through to the inside of your home.

 3. Restoration Work

After the cables are laid, any disturbed areas, such as small sections of grass or soil, are restored. Contractors replace the soil, reseed grass if needed, and ensure everything looks as good as (or sometimes better than) it did before the installation. If any pavement or concrete is temporarily affected, it’s repaired to match the original finish.

 4. Maintaining Aesthetics

The final result is almost invisible. Once the cables are buried and the surface is restored, you won’t even notice the fibre optic cables are there. The contractors take pride in leaving the neighborhood looking pristine while bringing cutting-edge technology to your doorstep.

 • Will my lawn be dug up?

In most cases, only a narrow, shallow trench is required, and the disturbed area is quickly restored. Modern equipment and techniques ensure minimal impact.

 • Will it affect my garden or landscaping?

Contractors aim to avoid any significant disruption to gardens or landscaped areas. They work with care to preserve existing features, and any disturbed sections are restored professionally.

 

Once the outside work is done, all that's left to do is sign up for a fibre internet plan. Once that's done, a technician will come on a date + time of your choosing to finalize everything. The technician will drill a small hole through the exterior wall to bring the fibre optic cable into your home. They’ll install a small box called an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) inside your home on the wall (The technician will discuss where you'd like this terminal installed for your convenience). Finally, they’ll connect the ONT to your router, allowing you to access the high-speed internet service.

Did you know? The whole installation process of fibre optics to your house is free of charge.

 

The Ask:

We’re reaching out to anyone currently living on Grand River Boulevard to ask for your support in bringing fibre internet to our street. By contributing to this, you’ll improve not only your life but our neighbor’s lives too.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure that everyone has access to the reliable high-speed internet they deserve.

Bell / Rogers (or any other internet service providers that offer Fibre-Optic technology), we’re formally requesting full-fibre installation on Grand River Boulevard! With the demand for fibre construction on our street, it would mean we’d finally have access to the fastest and most reliable internet.

 

But we can’t do it without you!

 

Here’s what you can do:

 • Sign this petition to show your support for fibre internet on Grand River Boulevard.

 • Share this petition with your neighbors to help spread the word.

 • Join the movement to bring fast, reliable, and future-proof internet to our street, and eventually the whole neighborhood.

Together, we can bring our street’s internet up to date and reap all the benefits of reliable, fast fibre!