Idaho Falls fiber optic network pilot program ready for service

After months of construction and installation, the Idaho Falls fiber optic network is ready for service. People living in two of the three pilot areas can now access the Idaho Falls Fiber website to sign up for the network. The fiber optic network is available in the Carriagegate area, the South Park area and the Stonebrook area. Residents in Stonebrook will have to wait for the ground to thaw before underground conduits can be installed and then they will be able to sign up. This pilot period is a chance for Idaho Falls Fiber and the city to see the rate of people opting in and what it takes to construct and build the infrastructure.

“We really wanted to see what the ability was to run fiber infrastructure alongside our electrical infrastructure, both economically and feasibly,” said Bear Prairie, general manager of Idaho Falls Fiber. “Can we use that same infrastructure for both types of wires and cables?”

People do have the option to opt in or opt out. If you opt in, it is $30 a month on your city utilities bill. You will also have to choose an internet service provider. Idaho Falls Fiber is currently working with four different local options. It says the fiber optic network will have faster internet speeds that are more consistent and more reliable.

“As we start having people do education from home –both teaching and receiving education online– with these types of speeds it ends up where you can do a lot of video chat and higher quality, higher volume data transfers back and forth,” Prairie said.

If you aren’t sure if your house is in the covered area, visit the Idaho Falls Fiber website and search for your house or search your address. Idaho Falls Fiber and the city are seeing how this pilot period goes before expanding to the rest of the city.

“We’ll see how the economics work out in this, what the, you know, support is within the community, support is within the neighborhoods,” Prairie said. “And then we’ll have the conversation whether to broaden this out citywide in the early summer, with the city council making that decision.”

Idaho Falls Fiber believes the new fiber optic network is a big improvement for the city.

“We really feel that this can be a game-changing technology for our community to make it a better place to live and really encourage people to want to come to the community,” Prairie said.

Idaho Falls is not the only local area with a fiber optic network. The city of Ammon has had one for some time. But today, construction on the city’s fiber optic local improvement district number 3 officially began. It will pass 511 homes. The city estimates more than 300 homes will connect to the Ammon Fiber Optic System during the construction process. If you have questions about Ammon fiber, you can visit their website.