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Hunt Communications: Bringing Improved Cable Service to Your Neighborhood

Hunt Communications • Sep 11, 2023

If you’ve seen a Hunt Communications team or vehicle on your street, a cable construction project is likely about to begin in your neighborhood! Hunt Communications contracts with cable companies to bring new or improved cable network service to neighborhoods like yours. We’re committed to making the process as painless as possible for you and your neighbors, notifying you before construction begins and providing plenty of ways to contact us with questions or concerns throughout. To help you understand what will happen during underground utility construction, we’ve compiled this helpful guide to the entire fiber optic cable installation process. Let’s get started!

What to Expect When a Hunt Communications Team is on Your Street for Utility Construction

As utility construction experts specializing in fiber optic internet cable installation, the Hunt Communications team regularly works with cable companies to improve cable service. A cable company will contact us when all or a portion of their service area could benefit from faster, more reliable internet service. We’ll then work closely with the cable company — and communicate clearly and regularly with the residents in the identified service areas — to plan, construct and install the new or improved fiber optic cable network. 


If you’re a resident in a neighborhood about to receive a fiber optic cable network upgrade from Hunt Communications, you’ll be notified of the upcoming construction via a door tag or flier delivered to your home. We’ll also place plenty of signage around your neighborhood, with prominently displayed contact information for your convenience. You may also receive information about the upcoming construction from your homeowner’s association. 


Meanwhile, Hunt Communications will be working with Texas 811 to locate, or mark, all existing utilities in the area prior to starting construction. From there, noticeable pre-construction will begin as we dig, or “pot hole”, to expose all conflicting utilities. This step helps to ensure we avoid striking or damaging any existing utilities during the construction process. We’ll also be working with the cable company or internet service provider to identify the best way to route fiber cables through the neighborhood, or design the best engineering plan for the network. Hunt Communications handles all the planning and permitting on behalf of our customers, as our experience navigating the various rules and regulations involved in fiber optic cable construction streamlines the process significantly. 


At this point, our team is ready to begin underground utility construction and installation. This is the most involved step for both our team and your neighborhood, it involves heavy construction equipment and can be disruptive to local traffic patterns and other day-to-day routines. Hunt Communications is dedicated to doing the utmost to ensure the process is as minimally disruptive to residents as possible, and we highly encourage residents to contact us with any questions or concerns throughout construction.


How Hunt Communications Brings Improved Fiber Optic Internet Cable To Your Neighborhood

It’s time to start installing fiber optic cable! You’ll notice locating flags throughout your neighborhood at this stage, and in most cases, digging will begin shortly thereafter. Excavating trenches and installing conduits is typically necessary for laying underground fiber optic cables, while aerial installations call for poles to be mounted in the area, if they don’t already exist. 


Once this infrastructure is established, our technicians will begin installing fiber optic cable. Laying fiber optic cable can be quite time-consuming, so be prepared for a few days of work at this stage. After the cables have been laid, it’s time to terminate them, a process which involves attaching connectors to the ends of the fibers and polishing them so they are ready for use.


Finally, engineers will need to test the new network connection to ensure it is working

correctly. This is achieved using an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR). This device sends a pulse of light down the fiber optic cable and measures the time it takes for the light to be reflected. This information is used to identify any problems with the cable or connection. Our experienced team will perform OTDR testing and other means of testing to ensure the new network meets all necessary requirements for optimal performance. Only once all the tests have been passed will your network be ready for use. 


Now that the network has been installed, tested and buried, our team will go through the service area and restore all construction sites to a state as good or better than their pre-construction status. Hunt Communications takes full responsibility for any property damage and handles all restoration, so residents can rest easy regarding the state of their yards, parks, sidewalks and other areas that may be affected by cable construction.


Advantages of Improved Internet Service

There’s no denying that installing fiber optic cable is a highly involved process — so why go through it at all? The reality is that the many benefits of improved internet connectivity far outweigh the temporary disturbances of construction in your neighborhood. 


The primary advantage of improved cable service is faster, more reliable internet service. If you’ve ever been annoyed by slow, lagging connectivity while browsing, streaming or downloading, you’re well aware of the benefits of a lightning-fast internet connection. Faster internet speeds create smoother, more enjoyable media streaming experiences, enable work-from-home opportunities, and provide access to the online information you need precisely when you need it. 


Reliability is another major factor in the decision to implement an improved fiber optic cable network. Cable companies are motivated to deliver reliable service to their customers, as it reflects upon their reputation as a provider and reduces their number of customer service calls. By offering service through fiber optic cable networks, cable companies can ensure their customers receive the most dependable, uninterrupted connection possible. As a customer, you’ll benefit from this reliability every time you hop on a Zoom call without your connection dropping, stream media without unpredictable buffering, or check social media for up-to-the-minute information and reactions to the latest news.


Conclusion

At Hunt Communications, each and every day is dedicated to bringing better, faster, more reliable cable service to residents like you. We know that the utility construction process can be disruptive, which is why we strive to make it as painless as possible by providing ample information and resources to residents before, during and after construction. If your neighborhood is about to undergo fiber optic cable construction via Hunt Communications, you can rest assured that we’ll be in touch with you to ensure you fully understand what will be happening in your neighborhood and feel empowered to reach out with questions or concerns. 


In the meantime, you are always welcome to check out our website to learn more about the cable installation process and its effects on your day-to-day life during the construction period. We look forward to bringing you an upgraded internet experience soon! 

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Going the Distance: The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Long-Distance Fiber Optic Networks

By Hunt Communications • 30 Jun, 2023
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Employee Connection: Design Engineer, Stephen Gomez (Q&A Questions)

By Hunt Communications • 02 May, 2023
The Hunt Communications team prioritizes professional growth for all our employees. We’re invested in the careers of our team members, and it’s part of our company culture to not only promote from within, but to cross-train and provide additional learning opportunities to any employee that has an interest in them. For this month’s Employee Connection blog, we asked Stephen Gomez about his work with us as a Fiber Design Engineer and his experience growing with us. Please enjoy this Q&A with Stephen, and keep an eye out for more Employee Connections in the near future! Hi Stephen! Tell us a bit about your typical workday as a Fiber Design Engineer at Hunt. My day starts as I walk into the office and greet my coworkers, which easily turns into information-gathering conversations about the day’s work ahead. Throughout my day, I’m responsible for completing estimates, creating redlines — original drawings that have been marked with red lines to reflect modifications to designs — and mapping out new subdivisions. My position requires me to flex skills like problem-solving, math and calculations, and plain old common sense. What’s one thing you wish people knew about your job? It’s fun! Once you’re in a groove and getting your work done, it can be very enjoyable and fulfilling. What’s something that surprised you about your current position? The thing that surprised me the most is also the thing I enjoy the most: There’s always something new to learn. I am constantly learning, and it’s fascinating to get an insider’s understanding of how subdivisions are built. Even the best jobs have challenges — what’s a challenge you face in your work, and how does Hunt support you through it? The sheer volume of work can be overwhelming at times. It’s great to be in an in-demand industry, but the mountain of work can definitely be daunting! Hunt helps us all manage our workloads by creating an environment of teamwork. No one is afraid to ask for help, and you can always count on your peers for assistance when you need it. What are your goals for the next few years of your career? I’m eager to broaden my knowledge of our field outside of work, and bring that knowledge back to Hunt to apply it in my current position. What do you enjoy most about the work Hunt does? The people. Everyone is valued for their own personality and skills, and will always make you feel welcome. There is always someone to learn from, with experience they’re happy to share with the entire team. What are you most proud of in your career so far? My capabilities are greater than I had thought. Hunt has allowed me the opportunity to grow in ways I never could have imagined. Join the Hunt Communications family! Looking to level up your career? Hunt is currently hiring for a variety of telecommunications construction jobs in Newark, TX and elsewhere. Browse our open positions and submit your application today! LEARN MORE
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