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SFCN Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ section addresses some general concepts and is a good place to begin learning about SFCN.

Questions:


What is SFCN? Can I still keep my e-mail address?
Who can use SFCN? Can I still use my current ISP?
When can I get it? What equipment do I need?
How can I sign up? How will SFCN be connected to my house?
How much will it cost? Do I need to buy a new computer?
Can I still get Comcast Service? How does SFCN compare to other services?
Should the public sector compete with the private sector? How fast is the High Speed Internet?
What node am I in? Why doesn't SFCN offer ESPN3(360)?
  

Answers:



What is SFCN?

SFCN is the Spanish Fork Community Network. It connects the citizens of Spanish Fork using both coax and fiber optic cables and offers new and exciting services. The SFCN offers enhanced City and emergency services in addition to community enhanced cable television and high speed internet access.


Who can use SFCN?

All the citizens of Spanish Fork can use SFCN.


When can I get it?

You can have all of the great services in just a couple days!


How can I sign up?

You can sign up at the City Office or by calling (801) 804-4503.


How much will it cost?

The services will be offered at competitive rates and will help maintain affordable services in our town.


Should the public sector compete with the private sector?

SFCN offers services that no other company will provide and can only be implemented by the public sector. The Spanish Fork Community Network has been established to serve the residents of Spanish Fork, not the interests of some large corporation.  We have involved the citizens of Spanish Fork since the systems inception through a local Citizen's Ad Hoc Committee and it has ensured the system is design to meet the needs of Spanish Fork.

SFCN offers needed competition to the incumbent service providers. While we have seen neighboring larger communities' services and prices improve our City has been left behind. Our cable television service is antiquated and affordable high speed internet access is unavailable. The Spanish Fork Community Network improves both these services and entices the current incumbent providers to offer improved services.


Can I still get Comcast Service?

Yes


Can I still keep my e-mail address?

If you use one of the many national e-mail services you can. If your e-mail is through a local ISP they may charge to maintain your e-mail address. 


Can I still use my current ISP?

Yes, but to fully utilize the services you will need to switch and use SFCN as your ISP.


What equipment do I need?

All necessary equipment will be provided with the service at no additional charge. However, to have wireless internet available in your home you will need your own wireless router.


How will SFCN be connected to my house?

A coaxial or fiber optic cable will be run to each home or business.


Do I need to buy a new computer?

The system will connect to almost any computer.


How does SFCN compare to other services?

SFCN offers state of the art services superior to anything currently available.


How fast is the High Speed Internet?

The most up-to-date information regarding Internet speeds can be found on our website at sfcn.org/sfcn/internet/.


What node am I in?

To find out what node you live in simply locate your home on our node map:
SFCN Node Map


Why doesn't SFCN offer ESPN3?

ESPN3 is an Internet Channel and is not offered on cable television systems. The cost structure ESPN is offering would set a very bad precedent. They do not allow just the customers who want the channel to pay for it. Instead they require we pay for ALL SFCN Internet customers even though only a small fraction would use the service.

This type of fee would lead to yearly price increases for Internet service just like we currently endure with cable television. Providers like ESPN want to profit from the increased Internet usage and would like to change the fee structure of Internet services into a model similar to cable television. SFCN believes this is a very bad idea that doesn't serve the majority of our customers and would lead to regular price increases for Internet service.

In fact, we want cable television service to move to an à la carte model where the customer only pays for the channels they want. Programmers like ESPN and virtually all the others continue to resist efforts to convert to that model. It seems unusual that the cable television industry continues to refuse to move to a model that best serves its customers and even wants to further spread their defective pay model to the Internet.