Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
What is Allband Communications Cooperative?
Allband is the first telephone cooperative in the state of Michigan and is organized as a non-profit corporation. The cooperative serves a 177 square mile area a few miles north of Curran, Michigan and contains portions of Alcona, Oscoda, Alpena and Montmorency Counties. (Please see our exchange map for more details). Allband utilizes state of the art fiber to the home (FTTH) technology and is solely built around fiber optics; traditional copper wiring is not used.
Why was Allband formed?
For many years, local residents were unable to obtain traditional land line phone service. When our current President, John Reigle, was unable to obtain a phone from Verizon and heard of people in the area dying due to the lack of 911 services, he decided to start his own telephone company. After almost 10 years of planning and development, his goals have finally become a reality.
Is there a fee to join the
cooperative?
Yes, there is a $20 non-refundable application fee. In the event that Allband cannot provide service to you, we will refund your $20.
What services do you offer?
Allband offers traditional telephone, long distance and high-speed Internet.
Will you be offering any other services in the near future?
Allband hopes to roll-out television and security services over the next year.
What do you charge?
Please refer to our
service documentation
for more details.
Do you have seasonal rates?
Yes, for 6 months out of the year you can reduce your monthly phone bill to $9.99/month.
When this feature is enabled, all outgoing and incoming calls are restricted, EXCEPT 911 services, which is always active.
Do you offer service outside of your exchange?
If not, do you plan on doing so?
How do you stay profitable with so few customers?
Allband subsidizes its costs by utilizing support from the federal government through the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF fund is a large pool of taxed money that is dispersed to companies such as Allband who would otherwise be unable to support its network solely by its subscriber revenues. Without the USF fund, Allband would not be operational today.
How do you install your services?
All of Allband’s main transport lines and service drop lines are buried. We do not install any aerial infrastructure. Allband will bury a two-strand fiber optic cable to your premise from the nearest main line location. Two gas-meter sized enclosures are mounted on the outside of your premise; one contains the optical network terminal which will provide your service(s) and the other contains a back-up power supply which will ensure that your phone remains online in the event of a power failure.
Do you charge for installations?
Allband does not charge for installations. The fiber optic cable, enclosures, electronics and inside wiring are all provided free of charge. The only charge you will have until you receive your first service bill is the $20 membership fee.
What if I do not have commercial power?
If you do not have commercial power, Allband will provide a high-output solar power solution free of charge.
How do I join the Coop?
Contact Allband directly to request an application packet or download the materials on our website. The packets contain all the instructions you will need to complete and return the materials.
Will you take down any of my trees or disturb my property?
Allband is proud to serve such a beautiful and naturally serene community. Our priority during construction is to minimize tree clearing and the general disturbance of property. A typical installation would follow an existing trail, two-track, power line/gas right of way or clearing. Allband does not clear trees unless it is absolutely necessary or if the county/state requires it per their permitting process.
Will you bore if needed?
Allband will directional bore if no other traditional plowed route is available.
Why do you need any easement?
When a resident requests service, an easement is automatically granted to Allband to install our lines as needed per the terms and conditions of our application materials. If Allband needs to install fiber optic lines across your property for transport purposes, i.e., to reach another land owner near you, we would require a right of way easement from you to use your property. We are not required to obtain an easement from property owners if we are using state, county or township right of way.
Will you pay me for an easement or give me free service?
Since Allband is a non-profit cooperative, Allband does not negotiate for easements with money or free services. Allband pays $1.00 for easements and does not deviate from this policy under any circumstances. As a member of the community, we believe that a cooperative is about communal support rather than personal gain and given our non-profit status, we cannot afford to pay large sums of money for easements. We appreciate your understanding of this matter.
Why should I give you an easement?
Your cooperation with the easement process will allow other members of the community to receive our services. Given the nature of the area, there are very few points of access when trying to serve our members. Most cases that require an easement, is a situation where access through a neighbor’s property is a more economical route for us to take, especially if you are also a member of the coop. Allband has the challenging task of providing service to all residents, camps, businesses, etc. in our territory regardless of their location. In certain situations, an easement is the only option we have when trying to reach certain property owners.
Do you need an easement for a service installation?
No, by agreeing to and signing the terms and conditions within the coop application materials, you automatically grant right of way access to Allband for the property where are lines are to be installed.
Who gave you the right to
install your lines on my property in the state/county road rights of
way (ROW)?
All service lines used for transport on state, township and county rights of way are granted by the controlling state, township and county authority, such as MDOT and the County Road Commissions.
If you take down trees, who keeps the wood?
In the event that trees are removed, all the wood remains the property of the land owner and is stacked neatly on the owner’s property. Brush and stumps are hauled away by our contractors.
I do not live up there, can I
set up a meeting to discuss this and look over the area in question?
Also, I must be present when the work is done, is that ok?
Yes, Allband is a happy to arrange for preliminary meetings with land owners and will do its best to schedule our work when the land owner can be present.
How will I know when the work
is going to be completed?
Allband will contact you well before our scheduled construction date to inform you of our plans and progress.
There are multiple owners of the property; do we all need to sign the
easement?
Yes, if there are multiple owners listed on the property deed, we will require all of the signatures per the deed. If it is an organized camp or corporation, we will need a signature from an authorized member of the club or corporation.
My fence or property was damaged from previous construction, will you
repair it?
Absolutely, please contact Allband immediately
to have repairs performed.
If you have requested an easement from me, how soon do you need an
answer?
We need an answer as soon as possible due to time restrictions associated with construction.
Who should I contact with questions or an answer?
Please contact Allband’s General Manager, Ron Siegel at 989-369-9870.