Answer: Broadband internet (FCC defined as 100mbps download/20mbps upload as of March 2024) is critical for today's digital economy, educational resources, public safety, and more. The state of Washington State Broadband Office has set the goal for every home and business in the state to have access to at least 150/150mbps broadband service by the year 2028.

Broadband deployment is increasingly considered an essential infrastructure. In today's connected world, it is extremely difficult to fully engage in learning, working, or accessing healthcare without the availability of high-speed internet services. 100 years ago, the major infrastructure push was to get electricity to all Americans. Today, it's high-speed internet.

Answer: The primary technologies utilized for the delivery of high-speed internet service are: wireline (fiber optic, copper, cable), land-based wireless (microwave, 5G), and satellite. 

Wireline: Fiber-optic broadband infrastructure is considered the "gold standard" of these options because it can support unlimited bandwidth use and has minimal signal degradation over long distances. Copper wire loses about 94% of its bandwidth capacity over 100 meters, whereas fiber-optic line only loses about 3% over the same distance. While wireline generally provides the most reliable service, it is also more expensive to deploy.

Wireless: Wireless is a good solution when wireline infrastructure is cost-prohibitive due to difficult geography, which would be very expensive to get a wireline solution to, or in rural areas with low building density. However, wireless infrastructure can be impacted by weather, trees, and other environmental factors.

Satellite: Satellite technologies, including traditional and low-Earth orbit, are useful resources for remote locations where wireline and wireless are not available. However, due to their high latency and instability of data transmission, the FCC does not recognize satellite internet service as broadband. As such, current grant programs will not award grant funds for satellite deployment.

Answer: Yes! You’re welcome to use your own router, as long as it’s capable of supporting your selected service - especially 1 Gig symmetrical speeds.

If your router is older or wasn’t designed for high-speed fiber, you may not experience the full performance of your connection. As a general guideline, many routers benefit from an upgrade every few years as technology advances.

If you’re unsure whether your current router is a good fit, our team is happy to help you evaluate your setup or recommend options that will work best with your service.

Answer: NoaNet Community Broadband believes that everyone should have access to high-quality, affordable internet services. One of the ways this is ensured for Washington communities is to have a competitive open-access marketplace where customers can choose the service provider of their choice and where prices are competitive. NoaNet only provides end-user services on open-access networks.

Answer: NoaNet Community Broadband is proud to support affordable connectivity options. Our service prices and contract terms are available in the services section of your customer portal. Search your address to find out what services and prices are available to you. You can alwasy reach out to sales@noanetfiber.net. NoaNet Community Broadband offers free installation, no contract terms and no hidden fees (the price you see is the price you pay).

Answer: NoaNet Community Broadband operates exclusively on open-access broadband networks. This means that several qualified Retail Service Providers (RSPs) can share the network equally to provide services to end users. The open-access operating model has been shown to reduce service costs and improve the customer experience for end users. The reason for these positive consumer outcomes is that in an open-access marketplace with multiple providers, the providers must compete to gain customers' business. If someone is unsatisfied with their service quality, customer service experience, or other reasons, they can elect to change provider. Power to the people! 

Answer: Get started by entering your address in the main field on this site's homepage. You'll then be able to pick from available services for your location and place an order with NoaNet Community Broadband. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our Customer Support Team, which is available to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

Answer: We are actively working on updating our portal. We anticipate fully integrating into one platform by mid 2026. Please reach out with any questions to sales@noanetfiber.net

Answer: A Fiberhood is a neighborhood identified by Mason PUD 3 for future fiber expansion. These areas are prioritized based on community interest. Once enough neighbors sign up, the area is added to the construction schedule for fiber service.

In Fiberhood areas, customers may see a small monthly construction charge (set by the PUD) that helps fund the cost of bringing fiber directly to homes. To see if your home is in a Fiberhood, please visit: https://www.pud3.org/pud-fiber/fiber-to-your-home/

Answer: An ONT or Optical Network Terminal is a device used in fiber-optic internet connections that converts light signals from fiber lines into electrical Ethernet signals for your router. Often installed in garages or on exterior walls, it bridges the fiber network and home devices, supporting high-speed connectivity.

Answer: Absolutely! Place your order with NoaNet Community Broadband and our team will coordinate a seamless remote transition from your current service provider.

Your PUD will handle both the turn-up of your new service and the turn-down of your existing service at the same time, helping minimize any downtime. Most customers experience little to no interruption during the switch.

To complete the transition, you’ll just need to power cycle your router so it can pick up a new connection (DHCP lease) on NoaNet Community Broadband’s network.