Frequently Asked Questions

We can have a Sea Ranch Connect technician meet with you to discuss what options we might have available. However, any change is likely to incur charges to the homeowner.

Next step, you will receive a call from Sea Ranch Connect Support to schedule a pre-construction appointment with a Sea Ranch Connect technician. During the appointment you will:

• Determine how to bring the Sea Ranch Connect fiber network to your home.
• Give an estimate of how much it will cost you to bring internet service to your home.
• Price is variable.

There is a collection of databases which map IP addresses to geographical locations. These databases are maintained by private organizations which are made available to other organizations (e.g. television and media streaming services) to use to customize (or limit) access to their content. You can see a list of some of the GeoIP providers here. Searching the IP address 64.38.186.55 will reflect the current location information from five of these database providers. As you can see one provider, EurekAPI, updated their information before we even reached out in December and is correct. Attempts with the others have not proven so positive. Another resource, http://whatismyipaddress.com/ip/64.38.186.55 shows the correct information as well.

We have made numerous tweaks to our RWHOIS records for the same IP block in an attempt to trigger these provider's processes to update. We'll be watching if these attempts are helpful. These providers do their updates on their own time schedule and using their own criteria we are somewhat at their mercy to update themselves.

During the pre-construction appointment, the Sea Ranch Connect technician will talk with you about your need for a fiber extension and your options. He can give you a quote for any extra work, and if you approve the work you will be able to schedule it for a later date. Please see the information on our in-home setup page.

A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is an auxiliary battery power supply. The battery serves as standalone backup power to your gateway device in the event of a power outage, your gateway device will maintain power for continued internet and phone service. Note that connected devices will also require their own backup power. Your UPS can provide up to 8 hours of backup power. If you will be relying on the Sea Ranch Connect telephone service, you will need a UPS to use your phone during PG&E outage periods. You can read more about the UPS here.

No, Sea Ranch Connect does not offer email service. Below are some examples of email service providers where it is easy to create a free email account. They are all free and only require you to fill out some basic information to create your account.

Google Email Account To create your Google email account, click here. Fill-in the information to create your email account.

Outlook Email Account To create your Outlook email account, click here. Fill-in the information to create your email account.

iCloud Email Account To create your iCloud account, click here. Fill-in the information to create your Apple ID and iCloud account.

There are a number of services you can use with your Sea Ranch Connect connection. Learn more on our What You Can Do with Your Sea Ranch Connect Connection page.

The Calix Internet gateway, which is supplied and installed by SRC, has two modes of operation:

Telephone priority. Following a power failure, telephone service is backed up as long as possible and Wi-Fi/data ports are turned off after 5 minutes.

Internet priority. Both telephone and Wi-Fi/data ports remain on until the battery runs out. (approx. 9 hours)

These settings can tell the CyberPower DTC36U12V UPS battery backup how much power it will need to run, depending on the setting chosen. This is done to help ensure the longevity of the backup battery while in use.

Sea Ranch Connect can remotely configure the unit into either of these modes on behalf of the homeowner.

The project has two parts: 1) to install a fiber optic telecommunications network with access to every home and lot on TSR, and 2) to contract an Internet Services Operation over the new network which will provide high performance and reliable broadband service to subscribers.

The board has approved both phases of the project. We have contracted with GigabitNow to act as operator of our network. Services provided will include:

• Will new subscribers still be making a 2 year commitment? 2 year agreement is for everyone, even new residents who would like to subscribe to Sea Ranch Connect.
• Initial fiber connection to a router installed and tested at the home.

Fees for commercial and non-TSR entities have not yet been established.

GigabitNow brings over 30 years of internet connectivity and customer focused experience to projects, as well as, turnkey solutions for the planning, design, construction, operation, and support of gigabit fiber networks. With expertise in a variety of fiber network architectures, electronics, and Outside Plant (OSP) deployments, GigabitNow are experts in working with customers in determining the best fiber solution for their community. GigabitNow handles design and construction of network infrastructure and home connections, in addition to, the handling of all network management, daily operations, end-user support and billing. GigabitNow has managed the construction of Sea Ranch Connect and will be our ISP or Operator for the network.

The fiber will be connected through a panel called the ONT on the exterior of your house. This is explained in-depth on the In-Home Setup page.

First, a number of members have asked about how the recent Federal Communication Commission decision to repeal the net neutrality rules that had been enacted over the last several years might affect Sea Ranch Connect.

What is "net neutrality?" Net neutrality regulations were enacted to protect the public access to an open and fair internet. The protections made it illegal for Internet Service Providers (ISP) to put "throttles" on certain websites (make them faster or slower), or make the public pay more to access non-preferred websites. Those protections were repealed last week.

Why is net neutrality important? Net neutrality has been important because it helped keep the internet open and equal—you could view what you want, when you want, on any provider (Netflix, Showtime, Hulu, etc.) you prefer. Last week's ruling repeals those guarantees. Without net neutrality, internet content providers could legally become "gatekeepers" choosing to speed or slow certain content, or charging fees for access.

What's really going on here? This is largely a battle between large internet content providers such as Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and others. Some, but not all, of these companies don't want to be regulated by the government. Many have publicly stated that there are no plans to change existing public access policies to the internet, but to some providers the regulations were restrictive. However, without the net neutrality regulations in place, no one really knows what these large content providers might do in the future.

How does this affect Sea Ranch Connect? The short answer is that it doesn't. Our ISP, IsoFusion DBA/GigabitNow, does not generate internet content—it only provides the mechanism through which the internet is provided to subscribers. In so doing, the IsoFusion Company is dedicated to the goal of providing the benefits of an open internet to everyone while keeping the internet free from corporate interference. More details regarding the privacy and neutrality policies of our ISP can be found on the IsoFusion Blog. We urge all members and Sea Ranch Connect subscribers to read this statement.

Our Relationship with AT&T—Sea Ranch Connect, through our ISP (GigabitNow), has a long term contract with AT&T to provide "backhaul" services. Backhaul is simply a fiber-optic pipeline through which data transmissions occur. An analogy might be a freeway which allows the free passage of traffic regardless of the type of vehicle or what it is carrying. While AT&T is also a content provider (programs) over the internet that is not a part of our contract or the services we receive. Sea Ranch Connect only uses AT&T to move IP traffic through our system. The regulations involving net neutrality have nothing to do with backhaul services.

Sea Ranch Connect's backhaul (pipeline) out to the internet is a 10 Gbps AT&T circuit through GigabitNow. Sea Ranch Connect and GigabitNow are dedicated to maintaining an open and equal internet, as well as your personal internet privacy, with or without governmental regulation.

Sea Ranch Connect provides fast and reliable internet service including:

• A 1 Gbps active ethernet connection to the internet over the community fiber network.
• Up to 1 Gbps internet speeds for both uploads and downloads.
• No limit on the amount of data you can transmit each month.
• Option to have a static IP address.

Wi-Fi Enabled Gateway – Sea Ranch Connect u6xw Gateway – This device has four Gigabit Ethernet Ports. Dual band Wi-Fi, 5 GHz and 2.5 GHz 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) certified, 802.11a/n/ac compatible. You can read more about the device here.

The CyberPower indoor UPS is rated for indoor installations (up to 50° C). Units are configured with North American 3-Prong Type B power plug. Units are 12V 7.2AH 36W. You can read more about the device here.

The manufacturer has an estimated runtime rated at 8 hours. You can read more about the UPS here.

If you have a common email address like Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, or even MCN.org you would be able to continue using it as normal. If you have an email address from CVC (name@cvcc.com), then you will need to change your email address.

We do not need to splice the fiber when it's in the home. The fiber is connected and secured in the gateway device.

The gateway does not have a screen on it.

The gateway is installed in each home. The location will vary based on the install path.

Yes, Sea Ranch Connect uses Laser light to transmit data. If you are required to move or troubleshoot with the gateway device, please be aware of the presence of laser light. If you look directly into laser light it can cause serious eye damage. If you see that the fiber is not connected and you observe the presence of laser light, contact Sea Ranch Connect immediately.

No, the gateway device is the only powered piece of equipment that will be installed on your property.

There are a number of services you can use with your Sea Ranch Connect connection. Learn more on our What You Can Do with Your Sea Ranch Connect Connection page.

Yes, the hardware that you paid Sea Ranch Connect to install in your home is your property. It's just like any other appliance that you own and up to you to take care of it. Sea Ranch Connect would be more then happy to provide you with a new device, if needed, but there would be a fee to replace the device(s).

We strongly recommend the use of a surge protector with any expensive electronics that you may own, including your gateway and UPS. Given how frequent power outages occur in The Sea Ranch, using a surge protector will help protect the gateway and extend its service life span.

Sea Ranch Connect offers fast, reliable and affordable fiber Internet speeds. We offer 100 Mbps upload and download speed and 1 Gbps connection (with average speeds of about 920 Mbps). Both fiber Internet connection speeds have no bandwidth throttling or limits on the data you transmit each month. Learn more about the speeds you will see for your Sea Ranch Connect fiber Internet.

Not long at all. The entire process can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes, but is usually less than a few minutes.

No, your billing date will remain the same, which is the 5th of every month.

Your bill will be automatically pro-rated based on when you sign up for the service.

If you feel the need to change your speed you can do so via the online My Account area. Sea Ranch Connect allows you to change your speed plan once a month so if you find that 1 Gbps is not a good fit for your needs you can downgrade to the lower 100 Mbps plan after one calendar month.

Upgrading is easy and only takes a few minutes to complete. No service trip or new equipment is needed.

There are many things that may be affecting your internet speed. There are a number of factors that can contribute to degraded speeds—from your internal network equipment to using your Internet via WiFi. We recommend connecting directly to your Sea Ranch Connect gateway via an ethernet cable to verify your connection's speed. If you continue to encounter slow speeds please reach out to our customer service team at any time and we would be happy to assist you on correcting the issue. We are available 24/7 at 1-866-270-1613, or by email at support@searanchconnect.org.

Sea Ranch Connect Telephone service provides unlimited free calling to Canada and the US, and very inexpensive calling to the rest of the world. A number of high tech telephone features will be available at no additional charge as described on the Telephone Features page.

You can view the costs on our international calling rates page.

There are no current plans to disable Sea Ranch Connect telephone service for periods of time. We do have a feature that would require a PIN code for all international calls. This effectively disables the feature for people that do not have the code, but would still allow local calls to be made.

Both Sea Ranch Connect Internet and Telephone services require power. Backup power will be provided by generators and batteries for our network and data centers. You would need to have a UPS Battery Backup solution within your home to maintain service. Each subscriber is responsible for making their own backup plans. The fiber gateway may have a power backup option available as well.

Next step, you will receive a call from Sea Ranch Connect Support to schedule a pre-construction appointment with a Sea Ranch Connect technician. During the appointment you will:

• Determine how to bring the Sea Ranch Connect fiber network to your home.
• Give an estimate of how much it will cost you to bring internet service to your home.
• Price is variable.

All customers need to setup automatic payments. You can use a credit/debit card or ACH. ACH is an automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account. Sea Ranch Connect does not mail invoices and does not accept payments by check or cash.

You will be billed and payment processed on the 5th of every month. Once your in-home install is performed by Sea Ranch Connect technicians and service is available you will begin to be billed. All services are prorated to the 5th of the month.

Members are not required to subscribe to the fiber service. You can subscribe to any available service. However, subscribing to the new Sea Ranch Connect network will provide much better service and performance and also benefit the Sea Ranch community as a whole.

Sea Ranch Connect provides fiber to the curb of every home and lot in The Sea Ranch. New subscribers will have to pay the costs of running fiber from the curb to their home, and they may have to bring in special equipment. We estimate that their costs will range from $500 up to $2,000 or more depending on the length of the driveway.

The Sea Ranch Connect service operates exactly like any ISP (Internet Service Provider) which means that it will provide service to your home—however the installation and operation of devices within your home, whether laptops, tablets or smart phones, will be your responsibility. We will provide detailed tips and recommendations on the website and a list of network professionals in the immediate area who can help you. Sea Ranch Connect will also provide online and telephone support.

We currently have no plan to allow suspensions. Your two-year subscriber commitment underwrites the connection from the curbside to your home. For those residents who reach the end of their initial two-year subscriber commitment for Sea Ranch Connect service, you will automatically be converted to month-to-month status. However, if you should ever decide to terminate service and wish to later enroll, you will be obligated to a new two-year subscriber commitment.

Sea Ranch Connect Services

• Internet connection of 1 Gbps - $100/month or 100 Mbps - $70/month
• VoIP phone service (including unlimited local, US and Canada calling (excluding AK and PR)) $25/month

Home Internet Gateways and Accessories

• Sea Ranch Connect u6xw Gateway (More Info) - $299
• Sea Ranch Connect u6.1 Wi-Fi Extender - $205
• Calix CyberPower Battery Backup (More Info) - $64

Optional Internet and Telephone Services

• Additional New Telephone Number - $3/number
• Porting, or Transfer, of Existing Telephone Number - $25/number
• Dedicated Static IP - $5/month

Installation Options

• Home Conduit/Fiber Extension - $6/ft
• In-Home Network Consulting or Troubleshooting $95/hour

Technically the Sea Ranch Connect network can support television in a number of ways, streaming is available now and there are cable like packages available for streaming from Google, Acorn, Dish and other vendors. More conventional broadcast type television and other specialized internet services could also be provided like online security and online medicine. These kinds of services will be considered if there is satisfactory demand. Contact a member of the Sea Ranch Board's Subcommittee for Sea Ranch Connect and advise them of any services you'd like to see considered.

Yes, the Sea Ranch Connect infrastructure includes fiber run to Carson boxes or "hand holes" at the curb near every home and lot on TSR. So there is no need to request fiber for vacant lots.

Lots and unsubscribed homes will have enough fiber coiled in their hand hole to provide for future connection to the network. There will even be extra fiber to support possible customization of the connection point, and unknowns regarding new home location.

Owners of unsubscribed homes will have to pay for their connection from curb to house when they subscribe. Sea Ranch Connect will meet with new subscribers to determine the costs of connecting their home to the fiber stored at the curb.

Owners building homes on their lots will have to run the fiber when they run their other utilities from the curb to their home. We expect that the incremental cost during home construction will be minimal.

• Peter Youtz, peter@youtz.com - former software developer and Microsoft research engineer
• Michael Kleeman, mkleeman@ucsd.edu - former startup member of Sprint, founder of WilTel, current consultant developing broadband in third world countries
• Bill McCarthy, wpm@northcst.com - former Matfot member, community activist responsible for utility under-grounding in Gualala
• Jim Carruthers, jimcarruthers@me.com - current facilities planner, former Matfot member, former TSR Community Manager
• Don Kemp, don@kemphouse.com - financial consultant responsible for innovative Redwood Forest Foundation financing
• Jack Dupre, dupre@sonic.net - fiber optic test and standards consultant, member of Access Sonoma Broadband group
• Elisabeth Watson, elisabeth.a.watson@gmail.com - current Technology Strategy consultant
• Chris Kenber, ckenber@sbcglobal.net - former Finance Committee Chair, current not for profit business consultant, former high tech CEO

The fiber network infrastructure will be built using primarily private loans from community members. Repayment will be funded approximately 50% by the $10 increase in the assessment already in place and 50% by service fees from subscribers to the network. Repayment is expected in approximately 12 years dependent upon subscription levels. We assume a future board would remove the $10 /month additional assessment once the loan is repaid. Overall the project will provide a significant positive revenue stream to the Association once the loan(s) are repaid.

The project benefits every sector of our community. The recent telecom survey shows that 95% of Sea Ranchers think reliable internet is essential, and 84% think that TSRA should explore developing a fiber network. This is what the board has done through its unanimous vote on October 31. With better broadband, almost half the part-timers expect to be able to spend more time at their Sea Ranch homes.

Rental agencies report that reliable broadband is essential to rentals and many part-timers rent their homes when they're away. Even lot owners favor fiber so that they can build modern homes. It is clear that overall real estate values will benefit from high speed and reliable Internet access.

TSRA previously applied for an FCC Rural Broadband grant in the amount of $500k, and a CASF grant from CPUC for $3,120,000, but we were not awarded either grant.

Yes! Fiber optic cable has very high capacity and our feasibility model assumes the purchase of more than enough bandwidth to serve the anticipated subscriber base. The feasibility model treats all subscribing rental homes, part-time homes and full-time homes as full-time subscribers. When we compare to other communities like the Issaquah Highlands Fiber community, we're providing the same or more bandwidth than Issaquah Highlands does for their subscriber homes which are typically full-time, four member households.

The fiber project is a long term solution to three telecommunications problems we're facing: 1) today's lack of acceptable broadband service in areas of TSR, 2) both the decay and shortage of direct-buried telephone copper pairs throughout TSR, and 3) the decaying cable TV coax on TSR. Verizon DSL is dependent on quality copper pairs with direct runs to their central office, and DSL is an aging technology with limited bandwidth capability. The fiber network project will replace both aging infrastructures and also deliver modern broadband with an expected lifetime in excess of 50 years.

The TSR Utilities Committee formed a telecom subcommittee three years ago to work with vendors and to seek partnerships to improve our broadband. We met with appropriate people at Verizon, AT&T, Central Valley Cable, Comcast, Sonic.Net and many others and asked if TSR cooperation and investment would enable their participation here. With the possible exception of Verizon's limited DSL offering, no company was interested in a relationship with our community. In vendors' eyes we are a small market with little growth potential since the number of homes on the Sea Ranch is capped.

Frank Bell has arranged to finance the project in full through loans from members. TSR Members cannot pay their share up front.

The project will install fiber at the curb along Burbank Housing and will preserve all options for whatever future this housing area may have. Burbank residents will be able to subscribe, although their subscription agreement will be a modified agreement and they will have to pay the cost of their connection from the curb to their home.

Yes, commercial entities will be welcome to subscribe. They will need to pay for the connection from the curb to their business and their usage. Their rates are likely to be higher than those for members because they are not contributing to the capital expense of the project.

Wireless and fiber are both fast evolving, popular technologies for distributing broadband. Fiber, however, has many advantages over wireless. Fiber can be routed to guarantee service at every home and lot at TSR. Fiber is laid in-ground. Wireless relies on a network of above-ground antennae and is subject to a wide variety of environmental problems. Most wireless services have capacity issues and are frequently capped. Fiber is more expensive initially but has a lower ongoing cost both for maintenance and equipment upgrade. Fiber is also the most future-proof solution with a capacity well in excess of current or anticipated future demand. For further information, contact Michael Kleeman, mkleeman@ucsd.edu.

NOTE The term "wireless" can be confusing. The discussion here concerns "wireless" technology used for distributing broadband connectivity to homes. Sea Ranch Connect uses fiber cable to each home on Sea Ranch rather than wireless for that distribution. However, a wireless fiber router will still be provided in each home for customers who wish to configure wireless connections to their computers and devices. Internet services are then carried on the backbone of fiber optic cable to and to and from each home's wireless gateway.