Afton / Faber – Nelson County, Virginia

After our original post Friday morning, the following update came out from IBEC at 3:04 PM Friday afternoon confirming what we earlier reported about Verizon:

From: “IBEC Customer Service”
Date: January 16, 2009 3:04:57 PM EST
To: “info”
Subject: Martins Store Broadband over Powerline Update January 16, 2009

BPL Installation Update – January 16, 2009

Progress! Installation and testing by Verizon of their T1 Injection Point serving the Rockfish River Road location is finally complete. IBEC began activating the BPL backbone in these areas Thursday, January 15th and has already begun configuring the BPL network. After each network segment is configured, IBEC expects to begin activating customers served by this location.

The Tanbank Drive Injection Point is also now fully installed by Verizon, but the “release order” is still making its way through Verizon. Apparently, there is an issue with an e911 address for a pole, and these addresses must be completely matched before release. IBEC believes this process should be completed sometime today (January 16th). As with the Rockfish Road Injection Point, IBEC will then immediately begin configuring this portion of the BPL network, followed by activation of customers served by this location on a segment-by-segment basis.

Meanwhile, the local Verizon office has taken control of the Martins Store substation installation project. Last week we reported that this was expected to follow the positive results of soil testing there, and that has transpired. The next step is for local Verizon personnel to install a pedestal near their existing pedestal at the Martins Store Substation and connect the two units with a fiber loop. The lines will then be tested and turned over to AT&T for release to IBEC. IBEC has scheduled a meeting with the local Verizon technicians next Tuesday to power up the cabinet at the Martins Store Substation. This should complete the Field portion of the T1 installation at the Martins Store Headend. Thereafter, Verizon must complete the order internally prior to activation. A Verizon manager has guaranteed IBEC that this line would be activated no later than February 7th but has promised to expedite this if at all possible. We will keep you posted on the progress of this next phase at the Martins Store Substation.

In summary, IBEC has begun configuring the BPL network served by the Rockfish River Road Injection Point and expects to begin activating customers as soon as the configuration process is completed for each section. The same progress is expected for customers served by the Tanbank Drive Injection Point. Progress continues at the Martins Store Substation installation, with the project now being driven by the local Verizon office.

We hope that this information has been helpful and encouraging and ask that you get in touch with us if you have questions or comments that will help us to better serve you. To do so, you can call 888-423-2275 or e-mail us at service@IBEC.net . Thank you for your support.

Thanks again for your patience,
IBEC Customer Service

Original post:
Crews with Verizon have been working at the Martins Store Substation for much of this past week. This is most likely the addition of new equipment mentioned a few days ago in this update from IBEC part of which said:

“The local Verizon office will now take the lead during this phase of the project and install another pedestal near their existing pedestal with a short fiber loop connection between the two units. IBEC is in touch with the local Verizon office and working to secure the earliest possible date for equipment installation. IBEC will then meet the Verizon technician and apply power to their new cabinet. We will update you as soon as we have that date. Once complete, Verizon will test the lines and turn them over to AT&T who will then test and turnover to IBEC. We are hoping that this will also be accomplished in an expedited fashion given the long delay.”

It does appear the crews were installing the additional equipment mentioned in the IBEC update. If this is the case, that would be progress toward activating BPL.

All previous post and history on BPL in Nelson County, VA by clicking here.

We’ll keep you posted!