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1. Why is Fiber better? What's the big deal?

Fiber optic data transmission lines have been around for decades. Made of glass and as thin as a human hair, fiber optics can transmit much more data in much longer distances than conventional data transmission lines consisting of copper or other, electricity-based lines. Long distance fiber optic data transmission lines have revolutionized telephone and computer networks worldwide; however, their high cost has prevented them from being deployed directly into homes -- until now. The City of Anacortes' Access Fiber department extends the fiber optic network directly to customer homes and businesses.

2. What about modems?

With fiber internet, an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) is roughly equivalent to a modem. This device transfers your internet signal from the optical domain to the electrical domain. At installation, we will place an ONT inside the home or business. If you have a City Managed WiFi plan, the ONT will also provide an integrated WiFi router. If you do not have a City Managed WiFi plan, we will place a basic ONT in the site which can be connected to your router via an ethernet cable. There is no fee for the ONT device.

3. I have the City Managed WiFi router, how can I log into the router and change settings?

If you have the City Managed WiFi service and router, then you can follow the link below to log into the router and make changes:

Change Managed WiFi Name and Password

4. Why are speed tests over WiFi less reliable?

There are numerous factors which can affect the performance of speed tests. Many of these factors reduce the reliability of test results, which can confuse the actual speed our service is delivering to the ONT. If you must conduct a speed test using WiFi rather than directly connecting a cable to our ONT, then we advise that you conduct the test with a computer that is within a few feet of the ONT. Even so, the results will often be lower than a direct-connect arrangement as suggested in the previous question. 

5. At times, the speed I am getting seems slow, how can I test the connection speed?

Speed tests, when properly performed, can give you results which indicate a general level of performance. To properly conduct a speed test follow these steps: 1) direct connect your computer to the ONT we have provided with an ethernet cable**, also temporarily turn off the computer's WiFi feature. 2) Wait until your computer indicates the internet is available, then browse to https://speedtest.net. 3) When the page fully loads, it should automatically indicate that it will be using the City of Anacortes' speed test server; this is indicated by the phrase "City of Anacortes" prominently displayed on the page. 4) Click the "GO" button/hyperlink. 5) The test will be conducted and the results for both download and upload will be presented to you. 6) For our 100Mbps service level, the results for these should be in the tens of Mbps range up to 100Mbps; for our 1Gbps service level, the results for these should be in the hundreds of Mbps range up to 1Gbps (or 1,000Mbps). 7) Conduct the test several times to get a general feel for the average speed you are experiencing during the session.

**if you are subscribed to our 1Gpbs service level, the ethernet adapter on your computer should be capable of a 1Gbps connection

6. I have a large home and my WiFi is weak in some areas, how can I improve that situation?

A whole-home or mesh system may be more appropriate for blanketing your home with WiFi. These systems have multiple transmitting units, often called "satellites", "nodes", or "extenders" that provide additional coverage. We cannot recommend any particular system, but want you to be aware of some common ones (in no particular order): Netgear Orbi, TP-Link Deco, Asus ZenWiFi AX, Nest WiFi, Eero Pro 6, and Linksys Atlas.

7. Do you limit or filter the websites I may visit?

We do not limit or filter the websites you visit.

8. Do you cap or limit my data usage?

There are no data caps on our service.

9. I just purchased a new router. Will the city come out and set it up for me?

No. Access is responsible for supplying the internet service to the home, and does not work on personal equipment supplied by the customer including routers, computers, switches, printers, phones, etc. If you are diagnosing an issue, you can always call to see if there is something wrong with the service to your home. However if you're having issues with personal devices, we recommend calling an IT support professional.

10. Won’t 5G make Fiber Optic Internet obsolete?

5G may be great for mobile data, however it will rely on fiber optic infrastructure to the 5G towers and will be used in conjunction with fiber rather than replace it.

11. There is a storm/power outage, and my internet is flickering in and out. What should I do?

The fiber internet, like other service providers, requires power in your home to transmit data via the ONT and router. Power outages can temporarily disrupt service, and does not reflect an issue with the network's functionality. If you are experiencing problems after a power-impacting event like a storm, please power cycle the equipment. Sometimes the devices need to be reset to function properly. If you are experiencing problems after power cycling, please contact our customer support number. Sometimes devices such as your router can be damaged during a storm from power surges.