High Speed Internet Update:
By Alex Saitta
November 20, 2021
Introduction:
This is a comprehensive update on internet service in northern Pickens. Some of this is new, some is just more detailed, and some of this write-up is a repeat. On Tuesday, I was taken on a tour of northern Pickens County to see the work Blue Ridge is doing in the field. Folks, this is truly a home run -- upper deck, 9 rows above the exits, Mickey Mantle style.
Thank You:
When Blue Ridge first announced their plan to build a high speed internet network in their service area, I asked and they told me it would take 2 to 3 years to reach northern Pickens County (the bulk of my county council district).
You can see, as I did yesterday, Blue Ridge crews are all over northern Pickens. What changed the schedule?
Well, the Vineyards (using their own money) gave Blue Ridge $1.2 million to install the lines and equipment in their area. With this outside investment, Blue Ridge built a substation in the Holly Springs area (picture 1) and began to build out from there, putting northern Pickens 2 to 3 years ahead of schedule. Hooray!
Direction Heading:
After the Vineyards, Blue Ridge began to install fiber/ equipment in the Eastatoee Valley, then moved down Roy F. Jones, then east on Highway 11 to US 178. They then headed north to Sunset Community Road, and south to Holly Springs School.
From there Blue Ridge headed east on SC 288 to the Pumpkintown General Store reaching there in early November. (Hooray! Remember I initially was told Blue Ridge aimed to reach the general store by year end.) Blue Ridge is also hitting the side streets along the way. Looking at picture 2, you can see Blue Ridge running fiber down Echo Valley Road off SC 288, which has only handful of houses on it. Hooray!
From SC 288, Blue Ridge is marching north into the Cherokee Hills subdivision, up Sliding Rock Road, up Hickory Hollow, up Carrick Creek, up Highway 8 — trekking toward Highway 11 from SC 288.
In some places Blue Ridge has reached Highway 11, and has already moved north of the highway. We saw a crew on West Gate Road hanging fiber.
In addition to moving east and north from Holly Springs School, Blue Ridge crews are about to start moving south down Holly Springs School Road, to Phoenix, to Meece Mill and then Gravely Road. Also down Holly Springs School Road, to E. Preston McDaniel, to Nine Times, to Upper Springs Road.
Phases:
Blue Ridges is building the network in the northern Pickens area in phases. They built a substation in the Holly Springs area. From the substation, main lines are feeding 12 optical lite terminals. From each terminal, 72 lines run out to pedestals on your block that then feed 5 to 7 homes. One substations serves 2,000 to 3,000 homes up there.
The Holly Springs substation will light up homes as far west as Little Eastatoee Road/ Shady Grove Road. As far north on US 178 as Sunset Community Road, the Wesleyan Camp, River Bluff subdivision. As far south as Gravely Road. As far east as Highway 8.
Next Phases:
I was told the next phase or substation will be built in the Fox Squirrel Ridge area, followed by substations at the Highway 11/ Highway 8 intersection, and then one in AR Lewis. The entire Pickens area will be finished (lines up and equipment in) by the end of 2022 (or early 2023).
Three Steps:
Blue Ridge (UpCountry Fiber) is working in a three step process.
First, Blue Ridge hangs the fiber cable on its utility poles. Second, they put in the equipment which includes a substation, terminals and pedestals. Third, they have to run the line underground to the house.
All this takes time, different crews working on each step, and they are moving at different rates. Once the fiber is hung and the equipment is in, it can take up to 90 days to place your order, open your account, run the line underground to your home, and light up the service.
Taking Orders:
If you are in the Pickens area and are interested in the service, go to GigUpBlueRidge dot com and put in your address to let Blue Ridge know you are interested.
If Blue Ridge is not yet installing fiber/ equipment in your area, the response will be service is not available in your area. However, it is good that they know you are interested. The more homes that show an interest in your area, the quicker they’ll head your way.
If Blue Ridge is installing fiber/ equipment in your area, the response will be “click here” to sign up. Do that. I typed in a house on Carrick Creek Rd (off SC 288) and you can see they are taking orders for homes on that street now. See below. Right now homes in the Vineyards and Eastatoee Valley are having their internet service turned on. Hooray! Blue Ridge (UpCountryFiber) is also taking orders in the areas I listed above.
Miscellaneous:
This year Blue Ridge will hang about 250 miles of fiber in its service area of Pickens, Oconee, Northern Anderson and Northern Oconee. Next year the goal is to hang another 1,200 miles of line.
The goal is to have the entire county lit up in 4 years.In my district (northern Pickens) Rocky Bottom and west on Highway 11 will be the greatest challenges I was told, but Blue Ridge will get there at some point.
If Duke Power is your provider, Blue Ridge will still offer service in your area, but the progress will be slow because Blue Ridge may not have much infrastructure in those parts of the county to piggy-back off of.
Blue Ridge is considering offering service in the City of Pickens and the prospects look good from what I’m told.
Looking at the poll, you can see 3 electricity wires at the top, a ground and then the thick fiber double fiver line at the bottom (see picture).
