Temporary Drops. What are they and why do we use them?

 

Wintertime presents technical challenges to fiber installation, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still get fast, reliable internet so you can spend more time streaming, working from home, or catching up on social media all while getting away from traditional cable and satellite internet providers. Temporary drops, or “temp drops” for short are a solution we can use while we wait for better weather condition.

What is a temporary drop?
During the year the ground may be frozen or too wet to bury a fiber line in the ground. During the winter months the soil is frozen, making it too hard to dig, and generally will take consistently moderate temperatures several weeks to thaw out, one or two “good” days just isn’t enough. The thawing of the ground presents its own challenges, as snow and ice melt or several days of rain contribute to an over saturation of water in the ground that limits our ability to bury a fiber line safely and effectively.


Do I qualify for a temporary drop?
After you sign up for service, our survey team will make a visit to your home and check if your residence qualifies for a temporary drop. This will be determined by the distance from one of our cabinets and any obstacles that are in the way. If you qualify for a temp, our construction and splicing crews will lay the fiber line above ground until they can return with better weather to permanently bury the drop. Our team will try to route the above ground line as safely as possible, usually along the side of your house or driveway. Always try to be mindful of fiber location when doing yardwork as accidentally damaging the line could necessitate a technician visit and a loss of service. Rest assured that there is no risk of electrical shock.

As always if you need help with anything streaming or smart home related you can contact us at 309-778-8611 or by emailing us at OneSource@midcentury.com