Tag Archive for: ServingLoveland

Town of Timnath selects Pulse as provider of broadband services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Town of Timnath selects Pulse as provider of broadband services

TIMNATH, Colo. (August 15, 2023) – Pulse, a community-owned communications utility providing high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, phone, and television services throughout northern Colorado, has been selected by the Town of Timnath as the provider of broadband services. The decision to move forward was officially presented as an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) during the August 8, 2023, Timnath Town Council meeting and at Tuesday’s Loveland City Council meeting.

“Communities across the country are struggling to ensure that their residents and businesses have access to affordable, high-quality internet,” Brieana Reed-Harmel, Pulse broadband manager, said. “Pulse exists to address this need in northern Colorado, and we are proud to make this critical resource available to the growing Timnath community.”

The decision to move forward with Pulse comes after the Town’s completion of a detailed broadband feasibility study and Broadband Letter of Intent process. Timnath’s Town Planner, Brian Williamson, said, “The selection of Pulse as our broadband service provider reflects a thorough process of assessment and consideration. We are excited to work together, leveraging their expertise to ensure our residents have access to reliable, high-speed internet that will contribute to the growth and prosperity of Timnath.”

As part of the IGA, Pulse will provide a 25% share of gross income on wireline internet service to the Town. That translates to a 2% to 6% return on the town’s capital investment over 20 to 30 years. Full payback is estimated to take about 26 years. The initial phase of capital construction will be funded by existing Town Capital Improvement Funds in the amount of $20 million. Aaron Adams, Timnath Town Manager, said, “The decision to partner with Pulse is more than a broadband agreement; it’s an investment strategy that positions Timnath for long-term success. Our choice to share in the revenue generated underscores our dedication to public benefit and strategic community development.”

The initial planning phase to focus on design, pre-construction preparations, and the permitting process will begin immediately, followed by the network construction phase to include service installation and testing. The construction phase is anticipated to begin this year and will be executed by Pulse’s locally owned and operated construction partners in collaboration with Pulse’s national award-winning communications division. Together, this cohesive team will implement a solid process to communicate with community members, execute work that is as minimally disruptive as possible and respond to community queries quickly and easily. From construction kick-off to service light-up in an area, the timeline is expected to be between six to nine months. Construction of the entire Timnath community is anticipated to take four to five years.

Pulse will provide the following for the Town of Timnath subscribers:

  • Internet: With fiber to the premise, Pulse subscribers will receive individualized bandwidth with multi-gigabit, symmetrical options so upload and download speeds are the same as well as unlimited data, no speed throttling and no long-term contracts.
  • Wi-Fi: Pulse offers a range of options to enhance the Wi-Fi experience. These options include the flexibility to bring your own device, utilize Pulse base Wi-Fi, and set up an adaptive mesh network.
  • Voice: Residential subscribers will enjoy unlimited local and long-distance calling as well as secure 911 access in case of emergency. Business subscribers will have a suite of products to choose from – from a single line to an enterprise-level call center.
  • PulseTV: Viewing favorites across 170+ channels (including local and regional channels) are delivered over a modern app-based platform that offers the comforts of a traditional TV experience with 100 hours of Cloud DVR standard.

Pulse is available throughout Loveland and surrounding areas. Interested subscribers can check current availability in their area here at pulsefiber.org/check-availability. For more information about Pulse visit pulsefiber.org.

About Loveland Pulse

Pulse delivers multi-gigabit internet, whole-home managed Wi-Fi, streaming TV, and voice services to Loveland, Colo. and surrounding areas. Established in 2018 with a mission to make high-speed internet available to every home and business in Loveland, Pulse has built the fastest, most reliable fiber network available locally. As a community-owned utility focused on service and technology, Pulse excels in providing exceptional customer experiences. Visit pulsefiber.org to learn more.

 

Larimer County secures DOLA grant to speed up Wellington, Masonville middle-fiber projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Larimer County has been awarded a grant of $995,429 from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to bolster the development of middle-mile fiber to Wellington Colorado, and Masonville Colorado.

The grant will be pivotal in bridging the digital divide to improve broadband access for both unserved and underserved rural residents in Larimer County.

Larimer County is a vibrant and well-connected region. Still, some parts of the county have long suffered from inadequate broadband infrastructure and unreliable service, particularly in rural communities outside the main population centers.

The county’s strategic assessment revealed that approximately 1,075 unserved premises within a roughly 3-mile radius around the Wellington area and 596 unserved locations along the Masonville route could benefit significantly from improved connectivity.

These middle-mile fiber projects play a pivotal role in preparing for future connections, although direct service drops to individual premises are not included in this stage. The scope of the projects includes the construction of 107,168 feet of above-ground fiber on existing Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) poles, interconnecting with existing community-owned middle-mile fiber.

While also increasing resiliency for PVREA’s power infrastructure, the Wellington section of the project includes the Town of Wellington and surrounding rural residents and connects with Fort Collins Connexion.

The Masonville route, on the other hand, will focus primarily unserved premises along Larimer County Road 27 between State Hwy 34 and Masonville. This extension will create opportunities for future last-mile expansion projects with Loveland Pulse

Each municipal fiber internet service provider (ISP) will own and be responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining the respective middle-mile fiber. As community-owned assets, the projects will be sustainable and provide a permanent long-term solution to area connectivity.

“This grant is a critical piece of our strategic plan to bring improved internet access to underserved areas of our community,” said Mark Pfaffinger, Support Services Director and CIO for Larimer County. “The middle mile connection is the foundation to connecting homes and positions the community to compete for future grant funds to help build out this critical infrastructure to bring fiber to homes with dramatically improved quality and speeds. Our NOCO Community Fiber partners have made this possible with the collaboration and regional planning that is necessary to solve complex connectivity problems in our region.”

Brieana Reed-Harmel, Pulse Fiber Manager, expressed, “This DOLA grant empowers us to address the urgent need for better broadband connectivity in underserved areas of our county community. The Wellington and Masonville Middle-Mile Fiber project is a crucial step towards achieving a long-term solution to the goal of connecting every urban, suburban, and rural resident to high-speed internet and bridging the digital divide.”

Northern Colorado Community Fiber LogoA key element of these middle-mile projects is the partnership with NOCO Community Fiber (www.NOCOCommunityfiber.com). It’s a collaboration between Larimer County, the municipal fiber ISP providers of Loveland Pulse, Fort Collins Connexion, and Estes Park Trail Blazer, and the electric utilities of PVREA and Platte River Power Authority. “Connexion is excited to continue our collaboration with Larimer County and Loveland Pulse to provide lightning-fast, reliable internet speeds with amazing customer service to all of those in Larimer County. We believe that a great internet experience is the foundation for the future of innovation and collaboration in this region,” said Connexion Broadband Executive Director Chad Crager.

The collaboration has already spurred the extension of community-owned fiber from Livermore to Red Feather Lakes by Connexion, extensions from Drake to Sylvan Dale by Pulse, and more, creating mutually beneficial projects and elevating broadband services for underserved rural regions in the County.

The DOLA grant comes as a critical financial boost and allows Larimer County to pursue its ambitious broadband goals while remaining sustainable. Without grant funding, the project’s costs would have exceeded available local funding. The county’s general fund has allocated funds to match the grant, highlighting its commitment to serving its underserved residents with equitable high-speed broadband access.

Larimer County Logo

About Larimer County:

Larimer County serves all residents and businesses through stewardship of numerous community resources, infrastructure improvement and maintenance, planning services, transparent public records, human and economic health initiatives, and broad community-wide public safety services. The County has a rich agricultural and western heritage that is reflected in our commitment to a high quality of life and preservation of our natural areas.

About Loveland Pulse:

Pulse delivers multi-gigabit internet, whole-home managed WiFi, streaming TV, and voice services to Loveland, Colorado, and surrounding areas. Established in 2018 with a mission to make high-speed internet available to every home and business in Loveland, Pulse has built the fastest, most reliable fiber network available locally. As a community-owned utility focused on service and technology, Pulse has quickly become an award-winning offering with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) 17 times higher than the national average and any other provider in northern Colorado. Visit pulsefiber.org to learn more.

Fort Collins Connexion LogoAbout Fort Collins Connexion:

Fort Collins Connexion is a municipal broadband utility that was created in 2017 by and for the Fort Collins community with the  sole purpose of improving life and business in Fort Collins through better, more affordable internet.

Connexion offers the fastest internet speeds available with symmetrical 1 and 10 gigabit service, unmatched reliability, all at an affordable price and with no long-term contracts. Additionally, Connexion offers competitive phone and TV services.

Fort Collins’ investment in building out a 100% fiber network ensures that the community is future-proofed for the next generation. Learn more at fcconnexion.com.

Pulse Needs Access Agreements To Serve Multi-Family Residences – Here’s How You Can Help

Let’s say you’re excited to sign up for your community-owned, fiber-optic internet (we know, we can’t wait to serve you!). You probably looked at the pulsefiber.org/Map, or visited pulsefiber.org/CheckAvailability to see if your address is ready to connect. If you live in an area on the map that is yellow, or get a message on the website saying we need an Access Agreement before we can serve you, we need more information before you can get connected. Your residence has more than two attached units and is known as a Multiple-Dwelling Unit, or MDU. For MDUs, Pulse needs a document called an Access Agreement signed by property owners, or authorized parties such as property management agencies. We have made progress on this front with many properties, but there is more work to do.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP PULSE GET AN ACCESS AGREEMENT SIGNED?

Connect with our business development department with contact information for your landlord or property management agency to start the process.. Call 970-744-2400, or email Pulse@pulsefiber.org. Then we will attempt to contact the property managers/owners and work with them to get the agreements completed. It is also very helpful if you reach out to your landlord or property management agency directly to let them know you want Pulse and need them to complete the Access Agreement. Visit www.pulsefiber.org/AccessRequest to find a sample letter that you can send.

MY LANDLORD TOLD ME IT WAS OKAY. IS THAT ENOUGH?

Unfortunately, no. We are required to get this signed authorization for MDUs – so we will need the Access Agreement completed before we can get you connected.

For any questions about the process behind getting HOAs and MDUs connected, contact our Business Development team at 970-744-2400.

For Pulse, “10 Gigabits” Isn’t Just Clever Marketing Language – It’s What We Can Deliver.

If you’ve been following the rollout of Pulse, you’ve heard the network described in many ways. Fiber-optic. Community-owned. Ultra-low latency. Reliable. For those excited to connect but who live in locations we’re not yet available, you’ve heard us described as “coming soon!” (…and we are! We’re on track to finish construction in Loveland by the end of 2023, and we cannot wait to serve you). 

Most recently, you’ve heard it described as a 10 Gigabit network. That’s because our XGSPON network is able to deliver 10 Gigabits per second of connectivity – that’s 10,000 Mbps – to every address in our service territory*. It sounds a bit geeky, we admit, but it’s really quite a big deal. 😉 We are also able to do it symmetrically. That means it works with both the upload and the download data transfer – information coming to your home and leaving your home as you’d use on a video call for work or with family, a home school lesson, or with your doctor. We are the only network in Loveland that’s able to do this. In fact, we’re one of only a handful of providers in the country that is able to provide 10 Gigabits for every address within a particular city.

Many residents have told us they find this confusing. The Big One™️ is heavily marketing itself as “10G.” Lovelanders wonder how it is possible for a company to say that if they’re not able to do it.

It’s important to note that no other provider is using the language “10 Gigabits” to talk about their residential network performance. That’s because they’re not able to deliver that speed to most of the addresses they can serve. “10G” is used by some in the same way you might name a dog Rover. It’s a name to call your furry companion. But that’s all it is – a name. Rover’s name describes nothing about how well he is able to fetch, speak, roll over, or retrieve your slippers. Similarly, the name “10G” is not a reference to the service that the network is able to deliver for the vast majority of its users. It’s simply a marketing tactic that gives the public the impression the network is able to do more than it’s actually capable of.

The 10 Gigabit Challenge

The 10 Gigabit Challenge: Call any internet provider in Loveland and tell them you’d like to sign up for 10 Gigabit symmetrical internet. Ask what it costs to sign up for 10 Gigabits to your home. Explain you’d like to sign up today. See what they tell you. (ProTip: It will only be possible if you call Pulse!). If you don’t want to call, you can read PC World’s March 2023 article, “Don’t be fooled: ‘10G’ doesn’t mean what you think it does,” or The Street’s March 5, 2023 article, “An Internet Service Designed to Mislead Customers.

If you’re interested in learning more about your community-owned, fiber-optic, 10 Gigabit internet provider, we’d love to answer any questions you’ve got. Visit us and subscribe online at pulsefiber.org, or call M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to speak to a Loveland-based customer service representative at 970-541-4990.

*Our two caveats: 1. We are not quite done building out the entire city, but will be by the end of 2023. 2. There are many apartment buildings and multi-unit homes that are in our service territory where we need an Access Agreement before we can provide service. Visit pulsefiber.org/AccessRequest for resources about how you can help get your landlord or property management company to let you become a fiber-enabled home.

Pulse Internet Is Obsessed With Outstanding Service and Our Scores Show It

When an organization has no fiduciary responsibility to profit-earning shareholders, and it exists only to serve the community, a key success metric becomes: How do our customers feel about the experience we deliver? 

We are proud to report that Pulse customers are very satisfied. Even more impressive is how our community-owned internet utility stacks up against major internet service players around the nation.  How are we comparing our rankings? 

What is a Net Promoter Score?

The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a widely used metric that gauges customer satisfaction. The score is based on a simple survey question that asks customers to rate their likelihood to recommend a service to a friend or family member on a scale of 1-10, with 0 being “not at all likely” and 10 being “extremely likely.” To calculate the score, subtract the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. The resulting score can range from -100 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater customer satisfaction.

Pulse scores over 17 times higher on customer satisfaction than the national average

In August 2022, PC Magazine collected data about 16 of the top internet service providers (ISPs) in the country. The average rating among them all was four. Pulse’s customer survey net promoter score is 68.4! Our customers are surveyed after they’ve been online with us for a while and had the full Pulse experience. They are able to provide feedback about the entire process: sign-up, pre-installation, installation, and our rock-solid fiber-optic service. The survey includes many questions, and the aim is always to find out if there’s anything that can be  improved upon. But it’s also where we’ve learned that Lovelanders are jazzed by the entire Pulse experience!

Pulse is on track to complete phase 1 construction (defined as within city limits when construction began in 2019) by the end of 2023. Check to see if we’re ready to serve you now at pulsefiber.org/CheckAvailability, or give our friendly, locally-based customer service team a call at 970-541-4990

About Pulse

Pulse offers multi-gigabit-speed Internet, PulseTV, and Voice services on a fiber-optic fast network. The community-owned fiber utility is built with a promise to connect the entire Loveland community, be transparent with rates and speeds, and provide local service and responsiveness second to none. Please visit pulsefiber.org to learn more.

2023 New Year, New Internet!

Today’s homes and businesses are brimming with connected devices – TVs, watches, phones, washing machines, health-monitoring jewelry, security devices, you name it! With Pulse’s rock-solid fiber-optic network, Lovelanders can confidently stay connected no matter their streaming and internet needs. To think through the speed that makes sense for you, consider the total number of devices and how much bandwidth each one consumes.

Counting Devices

Use the following list to ensure you don’t miss any device.

  • Start with personal devices – laptop, tablet, cell phone, watch, gaming devices, etc.
  • Do the same for every other adult using the connection.
  • Think through all of the smart TVs, including televisions that use a streaming device (e.g., Amazon Fire Stick, AppleTV, etc.)
  • Count children’s laptops, tablets, and cell phones.
  • Finally, count home devices like smart speakers (think Alexa-Echo or Google Home devices), doorbells (ex. Ring), irrigation controllers, security video cameras, appliances (robot vacuum to sous vides), thermostats, and security systems.

Consider The Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum capacity a connection can deliver. Higher bandwidth means more data can be sent to and from more devices. Remember, certain devices use more bandwidth than others. For example, 4K smart TVs use a lot to stream programs – so, if you have multiple smart TVs streaming simultaneously on a small bandwidth connection, you may experience buffering.

Whether using an internet connected mobile phone for a simple web search, or engaging in a more intensive activity like watching YouTube, if your kids are actively using their cell phones, expect they are consuming bandwidth. Laptops and tablets consume bandwidth for gaming or file sharing. Even your Echo smart assistance will take up bandwidth if you’re streaming music while getting dinner prepared.

Adding It All Up and Upgrading Your Connection

Upgrading your internet will improve the performance of all the devices in your home. Increasing connectivity ensures everyone can use their devices at the same time without experiencing slowdowns! Selecting Pulse’s My Gig – a gigabit of symmetrical connectivity per second –  means that nobody needs to take turns on video conferences for work, or who streams which show or movie at a given time, or plays online games against their friends. Give our friendly, locally-based Customer Service team a call 970-541-4990 so we can answer all your questions and help you choose the best internet speed plan to meet your device and bandwidth needs, or visit us online at pulsefiber.org

About Pulse

Pulse offers multi-gigabit-speed Internet, PulseTV, and Voice services on a fiber-optic fast network. The community-owned fiber utility is built with a promise to connect the entire Loveland community, be transparent with rates and speeds, and provide local service and responsiveness second to none. Please visit pulsefiber.org to learn more.

2022 Was A Big Year For Pulse, 2023 Is Shaping Up To Be Even Bigger

As year three of Pulse network construction comes to a close, the team is proud of what has been accomplished since the beginning of 2022 – and excited for what’s to come in 2023! In the spirit of the season, these are a few of our favorite things… 

  • International Customer Experience Award – We are always working on ways to deliver on our promise of a rock-solid utility backed by outstanding customer service. First, we are building a state-of-the-art multi-gigabit network that will be available at every address in the city. Then, we optimized our backend systems to create an incredible customer experience . We are proud to report that Pulse was recognized with the SugarCRM “2022 Customer Experience Innovation Breakthrough Award.” This recognition is for our true end-to-end customer experience implemented across service, tech support, engineering, marketing, and sales. The Breakthrough Awards celebrate businesses across the globe, so it is an honor for Pulse’s bold vision to be recognized.
  • Gold Stars From Our Customers – With over 70 Google customer reviews, we are rated at 4.6 stars. With grades like these, we know our customers are satisfied. See for yourself at pulsefiber.org/CustomerLoveStories
  • Accessible and Affordable – We launched the Pulse Affordable Connectivity Program Supplement in September, offering assistance beyond the standard Federal plan for disadvantaged households. With the Pulse ACP Supplement, qualifying customers are eligible for free or reduced-priced connectivity, depending on their selected package. Since launching this expanded aid, we’ve doubled the number of homes in need being served with these funds. Find out if you’re eligible at pulsefiber.org/ACP
  • Loveland Businesses Love Pulse – Service to Loveland’s businesses – the economic life-blood of our community – is hopping! We recommend businesses interested in switching to Pulse in the near future reach out to us as soon as possible for bookings in the new year. Our dance card is filling up quickly! Fill out this online form, and we’ll get back to you ASAP: pulsefiber.org/Business
  • Out In the Community & Recognized By The Community – Pulse has been out and about (and in some cases, in or online) at over 30 events to connect with our community this year. Sponsoring a blood drive, educating the community at farmer’s markets and on webinars, hanging out at the Corn Roast, and many others. We have also been honored by the community. Pulse was recognized at the LiveLoveland.Org 60 Years of Seeds of Innovation Event with the 2022 Community Champion Award, and with the 2022 Aspiring Innovation Award from the Loveland Chamber of Commerce

With 2023 around the corner, we’re getting excited as Phase 1 of the construction project is entering the home stretch. We are also working on new features, tools, and processes to keep delivering on our promises of incredible service to the community (current Pulse customers, you’ll want to keep a close eye on upcoming announcements!). If you haven’t already, check to see if your address is in a Pulse-ready area now, and keep in touch with us for news, updates, and feature launches at pulsefiber.org/CheckAvailability

 

Pulse offers multi-gigabit-speed Internet, PulseTV, and Voice services on a fiber-optic fast network. The community-owned fiber utility is built with a promise to connect the entire Loveland community, be transparent with rates and speeds, and provide local service and responsiveness second to none.