Sandisfield, Get Ready To Get Connected!

The time has finally come for residents and business owners to get connected to the new state-of-the-art fiber optic network constructed in town by Charter Communications. The network construction phase of the project Charter began last summer has been completed. Charter is currently finishing all splicing and testing of the 66 miles of fiber optic cable installed on the utility poles on public roads.

The next step in the process will involve residents and business owners to get properties physically connected to the network and services activated. Per a three-phase approach Spectrum sales representatives will be going door-to-door to establish what services a resident or business will want to subscribe to. Spectrum is Charter Communication's branding of their Internet, telephone, cellular, and television services. During this door-to-door visit the sales representative will be able to describe the full suite of services available with associated pricing information. For residents and businesses that choose to subscribe to one or more services, the sales representative and resident or business owner will mutally agree to a service installation date following the door-to-door visit. The resident, business owner, or their designated representative must be present during the scheduled installation as Spectrum technicians will need access to the property. The Spectrum sales representatives will schedule installations and service activations based on the type and amount of services to be installed. Spectrum sales representatives will be able to answer all questions during the door-to-door visit.

As mentioned above Spectrum will be connecting properties to the new network and activating services per a three-phase approach. Each phase is scheduled by address boundaries described below. For streets listed in each phase with no address numbers, the phase boundary includes those property addresses reached during construction of Charter's network per the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) coverage requirements. As each phase commences, Spectrum will be sending sales representatives out to all addresses within that phase. Sales representatives will be clearly identified, trained in COVID safety and precautions, and do not need to enter your property during the sign-up process. If sales representatives attempt to meet with you when you are not present, they will leave their business card with contact information for you to schedule an alternative day and time for an appointment. Waiting for the Spectrum sales representative to meet with or contact you is the only way to sign up for services. Calling a Spectrum 800 number will not get you connected to services.

Phase 1 (East side of town)
N Beach Plain Rd, S Beach Plain Rd, Cold Spring Rd, Hammertown Rd addresses 82 and higher, River Rd, Sandisfield Rd addresses 76 and lower, Silverbrook Rd addresses 53 and lower, upper Fox Rd, Elk Rd, upper Sears Rd, Clark Rd, Roosterville Rd, N Main St, S Main St, Tolland Rd, Tannery Rd, Smith Rd, and Perry Rd.

Phase 2 (Northwest side of town)
Sandisfield Rd addresses 90 and higher, Town Hill Rd, West St, Cronk Rd, West and East Hubbard Rd, lower West St, Stump Rd, Bosworth Rd, Hammertown Rd addresses 35 and lower, New Hartford Rd addresses 7 and lower, Shade Rd, Silverbrook Rd addresses 87 and higher, and Sullivan Rd.

Phase 3 (Southwest side of town)
New Hartford Rd addresses 21 and higher, Dodd Rd, Viets Rd, S Sandisfield Rd, Gremler Rd, lower Fox Rd, lower Sears Rd, Roberts Rd, Prock Hill Rd, Sandy Brook Turnpike, Norfolk Rd, Rood Hill Rd, Norfolk Rd, Sage Rd, and Webster Rd.

The tentative timeframe for Spectrum sales representatives to reach out to properties located within the address boundaries for Phase 1 is three weeks beginning April 1. However, variables such as weather, sales representative and property owner availability can impact this tentative schedule. The tentative timeframe for Spectrum sales representatives to reach out to properties located within the address boundaries for Phase 2 is three weeks beginning April 25. And finally, if things go according to schedule during Phase 1 and Phase 2, the tentative timeframe for Spectrum sales representatives to reach out to properties located within the address boundaries for Phase 3 is three weeks beginning May 16.

Important Note #1: If a resident, business owner, or their representative will not be at the property and available for a Spectrum sales representative door-to-door visit during the tentative timeframe for a given phase, please send Bill Haines (Broadband Committee member) your contact information at wchaines@gmail.com, or call him at (908)967-8403. The Spectrum sales team will be provided this information in order to reach out to you remotely during the scheduled timeframe for a given phase. This applies to full-time and seasonal residents and business owners.

Important Note #2: During the installation process, Spectrum technicians will assess the best way to bring fiber optic cable from the utility poles to the property. Some properties will get connected aerially (above ground). Some will get connected with the fiber optic cable buried directly underground. For properties with existing underground conduit from the street to the property, Spectrum will make every attempt to utilize this existing underground conduit.

Spectrum Services Offered

Internet Service:  Spectrum currently offers three different residential broadband Internet options.

• 200 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload
• 400 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload
• 1 Gbps download / 500 Mbps upload

During the sign-up period the Spectrum sales representatives may be able to offer additional Internet service options, as new options become released and available. The basic 200/10 Mbps data package should be adequate for most subscribers. There are no data caps on the Internet services being offered. Spectrum provides and installs a modem (inside the property) that connects to the fiber optic cable for establishing service. A wifi router connected to the Spectrum modem can then be used to connect all devices within the property to the service. Customers may use a wifi router provided by Spectrum for a monthly fee or choose to use their own device. Most newer wifi routers with a standard ethernet connection will work with the Spectrum supplied modem as long as it is capable of supporting the data rates associated with the Internet service option a customer chooses.

Home Phone Service:  Spectrum's home phone package provides local and long distance calling via the "Voice over Internet Protocol"  (VoIP) that replaces the need for a traditional landline (Verizon) service. Switching to this service does not require new handsets and most important, you can keep your current Verizon phone number if you decide to cancel your current Verizon phone service and subscribe to Spectrum's VoIP-based phone service. Make the sales representative aware of your desire to retain your current Verizon phone number and provide them with your Verizon account number and PIN (if you have a PIN). 

Television Programming Service:  Spectrum offers a range of television packages accessible via an Internet connection using a Spectrum application that requires one of the following:

• A Samsung smart TV model year 2012 or newer
• An Apple TV box plugged into your TV via an HDMI port
• A Roku device plugged into your TV via an HDMI port
• An Xbox One plugged into your TV via an HDMI port

The list of channels and packages available will be provided online at Spectrum's website as soon as your sign-up phase begins. Spectrum sales representatives will also review the current lineup and packages available as part of the sign-up process. Spectrum's Internet service supports all other regular streaming services to which you may subscribe to directly (e.g. Netflix, Hulu, Disney, Amazon Prime, HBO, Showtime, etc.). Via the Spectrum application Spectrum TV can be watched on Apple devices, Android devices, and Kindle Fire tablets.

Spectrum Service Pricing

Spectrum offers a range of packages including Internet, television programming packages, VoIP home phone service, as well as mobile phone services. These services can be mixed and matched to address your needs and preferences. Spectrum will offer introductory pricing offers for these services and packages with discounts as part of the sign-up process. All service option pricing will be presented in detail by the sales representative during sign-up. The standard service installation fee will be waived for customers who subscribe to a television package along with an Internet service.

Stay tuned for all the latest information regarding the schedule for network connection and service activation. Dates for Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 will be revised and reported as necessary.