• Community Broadband Information and Discussions

    Welcome to the SJC Broadband site 


    The goal and purpose of this forum is to provide a resource for members of the community to become informed and to enable thoughtful discussion on all possible broadband (Internet & Phone) options, now and in the future. We have established this forum with only one bias -- and that is to see the successful deployment of a modern, cost effective broadband infrastructure to accommodate our community's current requirements and to be able to scale with future needs and we have no bias on who the ultimate provider is. We strongly believe the collective health (individual & environmental) and prosperity of San Juan county will be greatly enhanced by the introduction of a reliable broadband service.

    The site is divided into two majors sections- Broadband Information and Broadband Discussion Forums. Broadband Information will contain a wide variety of information, data, articles, glossary, polls and explanation on this subject. This information mainly consist of two categories, Broadband Internet and VoIP Phone Service. Other categories can be accessed from the Sections on the left hand side.

    The second main area is dedicated to community-wide discussion for a variety of topics that relate to the current plan on offer from OPALCO. This can be found under Broadband Discussion Forums. You will see a clear and concise list of discussions by primary and sub topics that are accessible by all. In order to contribute to a discussion, please register. Registration can be done by the creation of a login and password or via your Facebook account at the top right of this page.

    Information will be frequently updated so please be sure to check in as often as possible. We look forward to open and thoughtful discussion on this critical decision facing our wonderful community.

    Thank you -Justin Anderson-Pomeroy, Chris Sutton, Sam Jacobson, Gerry Lawlor & Mike Greene.

    What is Broadband Internet? 

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    Broadband is just a word we use when we're talking about any kind of fast Internet connection. It's as simple as that.

    If you're reading this guide, the chances are that you have an Internet connection and want to upgrade.

    Since you have an Internet connection and you are in San Juan County, you most likely connect to the Internet with a modem that plugs into your telephone line using a DSL Connection. And you're probably no longer satisfied with the performance it offers.

    A broadband connection is actually not all that different from a DSL connection. The equipment is very similar - a different kind of modem, but still a modem.

    Similar to your DSL service you pay a flat monthly fee for broadband, no matter how often you use the Internet. However, a broadband connection is much faster. How much faster? ...
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    What is VoIP Telephone Service? 


    VoIP is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol, or in more common terms phone service over the Internet.

    If you have a quality Internet connection you can get phone service delivered through your Internet connection instead of from your local phone company, in our case CenturyLink's copper-wire lines. The capability was deployed for mass use in 2004 and is used throughout the world to serve urban, suburban and rural communities.

    Because of the bandwidth efficiency and low costs that VoIP technology can provide, businesses over residents are migrating from traditional copper-wire telephone systems to VoIP systems at a faster rate. In 2008, 80% of all new corporate phone lines installed internationally were VoIP. This move has led a major push by the incumbent telco's (AT&T, Verizon et el) to move much of their future investment away from traditional copper infrastructure and into broadband capability. Last November AT&T announced a desire to decommission their entire copper-line infrastructure to 76 millions homes in 22 states and instead invest $14 billon in VoIP technology. ...
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