Community Announcements

htcadmin · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:15 am Post subject: HTC Bluewave Q & A

Q. What is HTC Bluewave?
A. HTC Bluewave is a fiber optic network. In simple terms, fiber optic cable guides light. The glass used to make fiber optic cable is so clear that if you looked through a wall of it 70 miles thick, you could see a candle burning on the far side. Fiber optic cable can carry more information further and faster than any other type of cable. In a fiber optic network, data, voice and video are converted to light pulses that are transmitted along the fiber.

Q. What types of services are available on the new network?
A. The new HTC Bluewave fiber optic network delivers large bandwidth for extremely high-speed Internet access and data transmittal, high quality cable TV and video services, and traditional voice service through a single delivery point into your home.

Q. Why is HTC Bluewave better?
A. Fiber optic cable provides more accurate and reliable connections than ordinary copper wire and coaxial cable. You will experience a vast new dimension of bandwidth, speed and power with nearly unlimited capacity. It is not a shared network like cable modems, which can suffer from network slowdowns, especially during late afternoon and evening hours. And fiber optic cable is a future-proof architecture--bandwidth can be increased as applications require for emerging technologies.

Q. What are the benefits of HTC Bluewave for my television service?
A. HTC Bluewave provides unsurpassed reliability via fiber optic cable that is not affected by outside interference and will not rust or corrode. Unlike most traditional TV networks using coaxial cable, HTC Bluewave is easily scalable to meet the high bandwidth demands of HDTV (High Definition TV) and VOD (Video on Demand), now and in the future. In addition, with an HD DVR (High Definition Digital Video Recorder) you can receive all local network affiliate signals in High Definition at no additional charge. HTC Bluewave also features an extensive channel lineup, including free and exclusive local VOD content.

Q. I have HTC phone service. How will this affect me?
A. HTC Bluewave will replace your existing copper connection at no additional charge and provide up to 4 lines of remarkably clear voice service per household.* To absorb the cost of free installation, we require you to add HTC Digital Cable or HTC NetRacer to your existing HTC phone service.
*Appropriate charges will apply for multiple lines of voice service.

Q. I have HTC NetRacer High-Speed Internet Service. Will HTC Bluewave improve this service?
A. Yes. In fact, with the new HTC Bluewave fiber optic network, we will be able to boost the bandwidth and data speeds dramatically for blazing fast uploads and downloads. Generally speaking, you should experience upload speeds up to 20xs faster than your existing service and download speeds up to 2xs faster—for the same monthly price. So, you can send large files and photos faster and you can gain the competitive edge in multi-player games.

Q. How fast is HTC Bluewave for Internet connections?
A. Multiple tiers of high speed Internet access will be available…ranging from 5Mbps to 25Mbps download and 5Mbps to 10Mbps upload. Generally speaking, you should experience upload speeds up to 20xs faster than your existing service and download speeds up to 2xs faster—for the same monthly price.

Q. Is HTC Bluewave replacing the old network?
A. Yes. The old network is being replaced throughout your neighborhood. Once this is complete, you will have the opportunity to register for services and have fiber optic cable brought directly to the outside of your home.

htcadmin · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: HTC Bluewave Q & A

Q. Will online photos upload and download faster?
A. Yes. Standard upload and download speeds are much faster with HTC Bluewave fiber optic cable than traditional copper wire or coaxial cable. Generally speaking, you should experience upload speeds up to 20xs faster than your existing service and download speeds up to 2xs faster—for the same monthly price.

Q. Will online streaming video perform better?
A. Yes. With more bandwidth at your disposal video files should download faster and streaming video should perform better. Keep in mind that total internet traffic and site specific traffic can affect the performance of a particular web site or video.

Q. Will HTC Bluewave give me an advantage in online games?
A. Yes. Because of the unparalleled symmetrical service, dedicated connection and greater bandwidth, speed and power, you will have an edge over gamers with a standard copper wire or coaxial cable connection.

Q. How will HTC Bluewave construction affect me?
A. Installation of the new network will require burying new fiber optic lines in your neighborhood using a combination of boring, small plow and hand digging. A separate fiber optic line will connect your home to the HTC Bluewave network. This fiber optic cable will be part of a 20” by 10” optical network terminal (ONT) and power supply attached to the outside of your home.
Before construction, area utility companies will locate their facilities around the construction site using biodegradable paint. HTC Construction Crews will do their best to protect lawns and restore any property that has been disrupted during the upgrade process. Once construction is complete, you will have an opportunity to upgrade your communications service to the new network.

Please note: If you currently have an underground sprinkler system and can flag its location, this will assist our crews with finding buried lines.

Q. Why do I need an electrical outlet installed?
A. You will be using a state-of-the-art network to receive your telecommunications services. Part of this network will require an optical network terminal (ONT) to be located on the side of your home. The ONT requires a power source to operate. Power usage from this device is minimal. Due to the need for a power source, HTC will be contracting with a local electrician to install an outlet located near the placement of your ONT. The expense of this installation will be covered by HTC.

Q. When will construction be complete?
A. The construction schedule is dependent on many factors and will change due to weather and other issues. You can receive construction updates via email by completing the email registration link on this website. Following construction, you will have an opportunity to connect directly to the HTC Bluewave network.

Q. If I have questions about the construction, who can I contact?
A. You can contact our customer service liaison hotline at 369-BLUE (2583) or post a question online in the HTC Bluewave Community Forum.

Q. When can I register for service?
A. As soon as construction is complete, we will notify you of introductory offers via postal mail, or, you may register your email address on this website to receive this information, or you may call us directly at (843) 369-BLUE (2583).

htcadmin · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:01 am Post subject: HTC Bluewave Q & A

Home Owner Question: Do I need to have a new power supply near my current telephone and cable wires outside my home? How much equipment will be installed on the outside of my home?

HTC Answer: HTC will install a UPS(uninterruptible power supply) on the side of your home. HTC will also install a ONT(optical Network Terminal) that will take the optical signal and convert it to voice for telephone, video for CATV, and ethernet for data.

Home Owner Question: Do I need an active phone line to recieve high speed internet?

HTC Answer: Netracer High Speed Internet can be delivered via cable modem.

Home Owner Question: How compressed are the local and national High Definition television channels?

HTC Answer: We are not currently compressing any of our HD programming. It is currently passed on to our subscribers as received from the programmers.

htcadmin · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:02 am Post subject: HTC Bluewave Q & A

Home Owner Question: How will this service Compare to the non-local high speed internet?

HTC Answer: HTC Bluewave Netracer is the first 10Mbps symmetrical residential data service available in this region at a traditional residential rate.

With the new HTC Bluewave fiber optic network, we will be able to boost the bandwidth and data speeds dramatically for blazing fast uploads and downloads. Generally speaking, you should experience upload speeds up to 20xs faster than your existing service and download speeds up to 2xs faster—for the same monthly price. So, you can send large files and photos faster and you can gain the competitive edge in multi-player games.