Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Here you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions. If you cannot find the answer to your questions here, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

  • Why do I need to provide my address?
    • You must always start by providing your address so that we can be sure that you live in an area where we plan to build our network. By using your address, we can also determine the area to which you belong so that you’ll be referred to your Neighborhood Champion. We will only use this information internally. Spiral Internet is located in Nevada City.
  • Will you be able to reach my house?
    • As a “telephone” utility (called a CLEC) in California, Spiral Internet has access to road rights of way. We will be working with Nevada County, the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City, and road associations in this regard.
  • I can’t find my address, what should I do?
    • As long as you find your neighborhood in the list of areas, you will be able to proceed and add your address
  • Why is there a Take Rate goal for my neighborhood of 85% do we need that many sign-ups before we can get service?
    • Don’t worry about the 85% take rate goal we have set; that is our ultimate goal but it is not a threshold that needs to be reached before we bring you service. The most important thing is how you compare with the other neighborhoods in terms of signup percentage. You can follow the competition on the homepage of the new website.
  • Can I use a smartphone or Ipad to show my interest?
    • Yes, of course! As long as you can reach the survey/signup form via the web browser
  • Is my $119 deposit refundable?
    • We encourage all households and businesses in “Service Area A” to let us run the fiber optic cable from the road to the side of their home/building by making the $119 deposit. We do not require you to sign up for service, but do require the deposit to reach your building. It will be held in deposit until service is connected, then used toward that first month. If, after you signup, you sell your home or commercial building and would prefer that the new owners assume the cost, we will provide a refund. Note that a 2014 Fiber to the Home Council study shows that nationwide, on average, the value of a home goes up by 7% when it is connected to gigabit fiber optic internet. It is a wise investment, whether you decide to have service now or later.
  • Why is $119 per month a good deal?
    • Once you have gigabit symmetrical internet service, it enables you to “shut off” other services. For instance, since current smartphones will run off of wifi even if you have a weak cellular signal, you can stop your telephone service. That is typically a $50 savings. Most video content is now available over the internet for a fraction of what you pay for Dish or DirecTV, whether you use AppleTV, Amazon Fire, TiVo, or Roku with services like Netflix or Hulu. This will typically be a $70 savings. Then, subtract what you already pay for significantly slower internet speeds, which can range from $45 to over $100 in “Service Area A”. The end result is that, overall, you will pay $50 to $90 less per month than you are now.
  • What is a Neighborhood Champion?
    • Neighborhood Champions are local enthusiasts who are motivated to help bring gigabit fiber optic internet access to their neighborhood. Their role is to help socialize the idea of fiber within their communities. They try to drive awareness and get their neighbors to also express their interest online. The majority of neighborhoods in “Service Area A” already have Champions identified.
  • Can I change my answers to the survey?
    • Yes, just make another survey and it will replace the previous one.
  • Can I change my signup?
    • For any questions regarding your signup, please contact Nick at 530- 478-9822 x203
  • Can I submit multiple surveys or signups from the same address?
    • Only one survey or signup per household/business is allowed. If there is a second unit on your parcel at which you would like separate Gigabit service, you can indicate that in the survey.
  • Why do I have to accept COS Systems Inc’s End User License Agreement when I signup?
    • We are using COS Systems Inc’s Service Zones software. As a result, it is responsible for the information gathered at this site.