Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Broadband

PLPT Telecom Contact: Shoshauna Redner, IT Admin. Assistant

Phone: (775) 574-2450

Email: internet@plpt.nsn.us

PLPT Telecom Right of Entry

PLPT Telecom Service Agreement Form 

**Please make sure both forms are signed and returned to PLPT IT Department**

**Update for ARPA Broadband Project ** March 14, 2024

Important Internet Update for Wadsworth Residents

We are in the process of requesting funding from the State of Nevada for broadband projects.  OSIT is the agency overseeing the federal funding and posted the availability of BEAD grant money (BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM) for Nevada projects.  We have been looking at the mapping that highlights homes in the Wadsworth area that are disqualified due to existing internet availability (most likely Charter) and those homes that are unserved.  We are able to challenge the accuracy of the mapping for homes that are inaccurately disqualified.

We need your help checking if your home has internet available through Charter. This does not mean you just haven’t ordered it, but that you do not have it available without spending a lot of money to get it installed.

How to check if I have internet available:
1) You are already a customer
2) If  you do not have internet call: 1.833.941.3665 and ask Spectrum if they have service hookups to your home.

Contact us with the internet status of your residence:
Email:  internet@plpt.nsn.us
Phone:  775 574-2450

Please Respond by March 21, 2024

Areas that do not need to respond:

All the homes on Hill Ranch Road are already identified on the map as unserved, so you do not need to respond.

All of the homes on West Truckee River Road from the Nevaco building downstream along the river towards Nixon are already identified on the map as unserved, so you do not need to respond.

The apartment buildings are already known to be unserved so you do not need to respond.

The challenge map is indicating that the rest of Wadsworth homes have internet service available.  We know from a number of you that this is not true and so we will submit a challenge. But we need your help identifying which homes are unserved.

We Need Responses for this Area:

Rabbit Dr, Kammu Dr, 4th St and 5th St. Some of these homes cannot get internet service without a very large installation fee.

 All other Residences
Please confirm if you have internet available to hook up or not.

 

 

Request for Proposal
TITLE: ARPA Broadband Project Nixon Fiber Installation
Click Here to view RFP: Nixon Fiber Network Installation RFP
Posted: November 13, 2023
Deadline: December 13, 2023 @ 4:00 p.m.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT) is soliciting proposals from qualified companies to perform Fiber to the Premise Installation.

Project Description:
The PLPT tribe currently has a fiber broadband network that connects the towns of Wadsworth, Nixon and Sutcliffe NV with a POP in Reno NV. The Telecom Node Building in Sutcliffe will be the distribution hub for the Calix equipment. The project will implement primarily aerial fiber with some underground fiber. The Nixon project will provide fiber to the homes and businesses in Nixon, NV. The buildout will be broadband to the premises. We currently have the design in OSPInsight software. During the proposal phase, prospective contractors may request the contact information for Silas Callahan, our Dowl engineer on the project. Silas will authorize the access to the OSP Design software after an NDA is submitted and respond to all questions by prospective contractors. Prospective bidders will also be provided with a BOM file, more detailed specs and requirements file and a KMZ file with the layered design. The design and materials lists are subject to change after contract approval for various reasons pertaining to material availability, design discrepancy etc. The proposal should take this into account and minimize the impact of these issues with general breakdown of costs.

If you have any questions on this RFP, please contact Silas Callahan at SCallahan@dowl.com. Silas will be answering all questions pertaining to the RFP process and fiber design.

For general questions, please contact Greg Gardner at: ggardner@plpt.nsn.us
Phone: 775-574-1000 ext 1117

Request for Proposal will expire on 12/13/2023 at 4:00 pm. Please mark sealed envelope with “ARPA Nixon Fiber Installation”.

Please submit your sealed proposals to the Tribal Secretary’s Office at P.O. Box 256, Nixon, NV 89424 or deliver to 208 Capitol Hill, Tribal Secretary’s Office in Nixon, NV.

Soft copies sent by email to the PLPT Technology Director, Greg Gardner at: ggardner@plpt.nsn.us and received by the deadline are acceptable. Please put “ARPA Nixon Fiber Installation” in the subject line.

THE TRIBE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY AND ALL BIDS. Preference in selection process is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code, Section 472 and 473). However, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the provisions of Section 703 (I) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, amended in 1991. 

**Update for ARPA Broadband Project ** October 19, 2023

Fiber Installation in Sutcliffe has begun. 

We need everyone to sign an entry permission to attach the fiberline to a box outside your residence.  All those who submit this before January 01, 2024, and sign up for internet service will get a 6-month credit for free service.  Once the grant funding ends, we will not be able to subsidize this part of the installation. You do not need to sign up for internet service yet, but we have posted the Internet service agreement.  That includes free equipment and free installation.

We will be posting an RFP for installation of the fiber in Nixon and expect that project will begin in late spring next year. 

The Marble Bluff extension of the Gerlach project is almost completed. We are waiting for NVEnergy to bury conduit to the new comm bldg.

Shoshauna Redner will be at the Marina Store, Pyramid Lake Lodge, and wherever the crews are in the neighborhood. She can answer any questions you may have, and will have the entry permissions and internet service agreements for you to sign. Her vehicle will have signs on it. We will be announcing drop-off points for those who have filled out and signed their documents.

New service level
We have upgraded the level of basic service from 200  mbps to 250 mbps

Internet Service Costs: We will be providing  two levels of service for residents (non-commercial):

  • $55 per month –  250 Mbps up/down (12-month agreement required and auto billing).
  • $110 per month – 1 Gbps up/down (12-month agreement required and auto billing).
  • Home Equipment – Free, including home wireless network with cloud support.
  • Installation – Free.

We will also be providing some initial free service.  Currently anyone in both Nixon and Sutcliffe who signs the entry permission and subscribes to internet service by January 01, 2024, will get a 6-month credit for free service.  Remember to download the forms, fill them out and sign them.  Drop them off at the Tribal Office for the Technology dept. You can also call Shoshauna at (775) 574-2450 or email her at internet@plpt.nsn.us.

We will also be supporting government Lifeline programs.  Learn more about those here:  https://www.usa.gov/help-with-phone-internet-bills

And the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program. Learn more about those here:  https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/do-i-qualify/

No More Satellite TV bill

Streaming your favorite television shows is going to be easy and cheaper with your new fiber internet. With the speeds for the basic service, three or four TVs can be streamed at once.  There are many options.  If you want to replace your cable/satellite channels, check out these options. 
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services

Past Updates:

** Update for ARPA Broadband Project ** January 17, 2023

Council approved the contract with Digital Technology Solutions to begin installation of the fiber internet in Sutcliffe. This means that the timeline for signing entry agreements to connect your building in case you want internet now or later at no cost is about to begin. It is important that everyone who lives in Sutcliffe contacts Shoshauna at (775) 574-2450 and gets on the list. 

Many have already done this, but over half of the residents in Sutcliffe have not.  We will be putting out deadlines for this during the summer if you want the free building connection. There will be advantages if you sign up for internet early to save a significant amount of money.  We will be sending more information on internet signup soon. 

Pass this information on to everyone who lives in Sutcliffe and may not work for the tribe.  The fiber internet will be available to all residents and businesses in Sutcliffe that have established power to their building. This includes the mobile home parks. There will be more news soon on the Nixon installation. 

For more information on Internet Home and Businesses Connection information, please see here

This document must be signed and returned to the Technology Department: PLPT Telecom Right of Entry Agreement

Signed Property Entry Agreements can be dropped off at the Tribal Office Building in Nixon or mailed to:

Technology Dept
PO Box 256
Nixon, NV 89424

For sign-up, please contact Shoshauna Redner at (775) 574-2450 or email at internet@plpt.nsn.us

 ____________________________________________________

Project: The tribe’s attorneys finally signed off on the license agreement for the fiber networking equipment that will be both in the home and in the telecom buildings for each community. That equipment is being shipped. We are waiting on the attorney review and council approval for the property entry agreement and the service agreement.

Sutcliffe: We have finished the fiber network design and pole engineering for Sutcliffe. We are preparing the RFP for construction in Sutcliffe. Ideally, we want to have a contract by the end of March. The construction in Sutcliffe should go fairly quickly and we hope to begin home connections by late summer. 

Nixon: We have begun the fiber network design and pole engineering for Nixon.  This should be completed by the end of March. Then we will begin the process for construction bids.

Wadsworth: The budget for the ARPA broadband funding is for Nixon and Sutcliffe. Due to non-compete restrictions on federal programs, we cannot compete with ATT and Charter with fiber installation using federal funds. Our intention is to have some money in the budget to offset costs for those in Wadsworth with no ATT or Charter option.  We will have more information on this once the construction installation for Nixon is known. We are working on alternatives to eventually provide an option for all residents in the Wadsworth area.

Marble Bluff: The route to Marble Bluff was approved by council and we anticipate being able to sign up the two cell companies and Washoe County for service. This revenue stream is important in that it will help subsidize the residential internet service costs. It also includes the route to Gerlach on the PLPT fiber network. The residential and business customers will also be added to this route into Reno for internet service.

Internet Service Costs: We are looking at providing two levels of service for residents (non-commercial):

  • $55 per month – 200 Mbps up/down (12-month agreement required and auto billing).
  • $110 per month – 1 Gbps up/down (12-month agreement required and auto billing).
  • Home Equipment – Free, including home wireless network with cloud support.
  • Installation – Free.

We will also be providing some initial free service.  There will be more information on this later.

NOTICE: Signed Entry Permits for Phase 1 – home connection will be required to be on file.

Please read the attachment on the description on the home connection for phase 1 and 2 (See Gallery Below). The attachment of the fiber to your property is phase 1. This is a free installation and never a monthly charge. This requires the signing of the property entry permit.  If you are already on the contact list, then you have nothing to do until we contact you with the approved agreement for signature.  If you are not on the contact list, you must contact us before the deadline of May 31, 2023, or you will not be able to get internet later without a charge for installation. Hooking up the home could be costly. 

Additional Information

Those who have already provided contact information will soon be receiving emails with the approved property entry agreements to sign. We will also be visiting the neighborhood with signs and paperwork in an effort to get more people to sign up.  Spread the word. If you are on the contact list, you will receive emails from PLPT Telecom (the tribe’s telecommunication department).

We will also be providing more information on how you can get rid of your satellite TV and get internet and TV/Movie streaming services at a significant savings. Almost everyone should be able to get high speed internet, their favorite television channels for less than they are paying for Dish or Directv.

__________________________________________________

** 03/04/2022 **
(FULFILLED)

Request for Proposals Announcement

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe is posting an RFP seeking candidates for a design contract for the Fiber Design Phase I. This will include the towns of Nixon and Sutcliffe NV. Contact information is included in the RFP if you have any questions. The deadline for submitting proposals is 3/31/2022.

Request for Proposal
TITLE: ARPA Broadband Project Fiber Design Phase 1

The PLPT tribe currently has a fiber broadband network that connects the towns of Wadsworth, Nixon and Sutcliffe NV with a POP in Reno NV.  The project will implement primarily aerial fiber with some underground fiber. The Phase I project will provide fiber to the homes and businesses in Sutcliffe and Nixon. Each town’s current fiber infrastructure has underground fiber with network node buildings already in operation. The buildout will be broadband to the premises.  The scope of the premise connections is approximately 200 connections in Sutcliffe and 200 connections in Nixon. Each node building will distribute broadband to the customers with a dedicated Calix Axos E7-2 fiber switcher. Due to the lack of splicing designs on this network, part of the project is identifying the splicing design that exists which will also take into account the infrastructure route in Wadsworth.  Based upon route design documents it is estimated that there are 68 splice vaults on the network. General route maps are available upon request.  A fiber route design document will be available to the selected candidate.

Date Posted: EXPIRED

___________________________