UPDATED May 21

AT&T Fiber Network Installation

Continuing Upward – 2 Days Per Hallway

As of Friday May 25^th, work will be continuing from the 36^th floor up to the 55^th floor. For the most part progress has been made as planned, so they intend to continue upward 2 days per hallway. A fiber line is being run to the main media wall in each unit (ideally where your primary cable outlet is located). Residents are welcome to be home while the work is being done. All residents will need to do, is make sure any furniture or belongings are moved on their designated installation date, so workers can access the wall where your TV is located or a location you designate as a primary media wall.

1 floor every 2 working days is completed, consistent with the schedule below. They work inside 8 to 9 units on day 1, and the remainder on day 2. They need about 30 minutes, between 9am and 5pm, to complete the work in each unit. They typically work in number order, in 3 to 4 units at a time beginning with the 01, 02, 03, and 04 units between 9am and 10am. As they finish those units, move to 05, 06, 07, 08, and so on. On Day 2, they expect to complete whatever units they do not get to on Day 1, and complete connections in the hallway to the main fiber line running up the building through each storage room. HOWEVER – if you’re home day 1 and have a preference for either day, feel to let them know. They are doing everything they can to accommodate any requests.

The next several weeks of anticipated progress is as follows:

Friday and Tuesday May 25^th and May 29^th     –     36^th Floor Units 3601-3615

Wednesday and Thursday May 30^th and May 31^st     –     37^th Floor Units 3701-3715

Friday and Monday June 1^st and June 4^th     –     38^th Floor Units 3801-3815

Tuesday and Wednesday June 5^th and June 6^th      –     39^th Floor Units 3901-3915

Thursday and Friday June 7^th and June 8^th     –     40^th Floor Units 4001-4015

Monday and Tuesday June 11^th and June 12^{th      –}     41^st Floor Units 4101-4115

Wednesday and Thursday June 13^th and June 14^th      –     42^nd Floor Units 4201-4215

Friday and Monday June 15^th and June 18^th      –     43^rd Floor Units 4301-4315

Tuesday and Wednesday June 19^th and June 20^th      –     44^th Floor Units 4401-4415

Thursday and Friday June 21^st and June 22^nd      –     45^th Floor Units 4501-4515

Monday and Tuesday June 25^th and June 26^th      –     46^th Floor Units 4601-4615

Wednesday and Thursday June 27^th and June 28^th      –     47^th Floor Units 4701-4715

Friday and Monday June 29^th and July 2^nd      –      48^th Floor Units 4801-4815

Tuesday and Thursday July 3^rd and July 5^th      –      49^th Floor Units 4901-4915

Friday and Monday July 6^th and July 9^th      –     50^th Floor Units 5001-5015

Tuesday and Wednesday July 10^th and July 11^th      –     51^st Floor Units 5101-5115

Thursday and Friday July 12^th and July 13^th      –     52^nd Floor Units 5201-5215

Monday and Tuesday July 16^th and July 17^{th      –}     53^rd Floor Units 5301-5315

Wednesday and Thursday July 18^th and July 19^th      –      54^th Floor Units 5401-5415

Friday and Monday July 20^th and July 23^rd     –     55^th Floor Units 5501-5515

After July 23rd, AT&T will still be working from time to time, to finish up the main line connections, but they no longer expect to need access to units.

Please contact the office with any questions, at 773-769-3250, or via e-mail at parktowercondo@dkcondo.com.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR PAST POSTS BELOW, for more information as well, including our helpful Q&A about the project.

UPDATED April 13th

AT&T Fiber Network Installation

Continuing Upward – 2 Days Per Hallway

Work will be continuing – as expected – from the 10^th floor up to the 55^th floor.

For the most part, through the 20^th floor all has gone as planned, and they will continue upward 2 days per hallway. A fiber line is being run to the main media wall in each unit (ideally where your primary cable outlet is located). Residents are welcome to be home while the work is being done. All residents will need to do, is make sure any furniture or belongings are moved on their designated installation date, so workers can access the wall where your TV is located or a location you designate as a primary media wall. More specific details are available below in prior updates, or contacting the Management Office.

They are expected to complete 1 floor every 2 working days, consistent with the schedule below. They anticipate working inside 8 to 9 units on day 1, and the remainder on day 2. They need about 30 minutes, between 9am and 5pm, to complete the work in each unit. They typically work in number order, in 3 to 4 units at a time. So they will begin in the 01, 02, 03, and 04 units between 9am and 10am, and as they finish those units, move to 05, 06, 07, 08, and so on. On Day 2, they expect to complete whatever units they do not get to on Day 1, and complete connections in the hallway to the main fiber line running up the building through each storage room. HOWEVER – if you are home on day 1 and have a preference for them to get to you on day 1 or 2, do not hesitate to let them know. They are doing everything they can to accommodate any requests.

Progress is monitored closely, and the planned schedule of 2 days per floor has worked well. Expectations are this will continue as they work their way up. The next several weeks of anticipated progress is as follows:

Friday and Monday April 13^th and April 16^th     21^st Floor Units 2101-2115

Tuesday and Wednesday April 17^th and April 18^th    22^nd Floor Units 2201-2215

Thursday and Friday April 19^th and April 20^th   23^rd Floor Units 2301-2315

Monday and Tuesday April 23^rd and April 24^th      24^th Floor Units 2401-2415

Wednesday and Thursday April 25^th and April 26^th  25^th Floor Units 2501-2515

Friday and Monday April 27^th and April 30^th    26^th Floor Units 2601-2615

Tuesday and Wednesday May 1^st and May 2^nd   27^th Floor Units 2701-2715

Thursday and Friday May 3^rd and May 4^th     28^th Floor Units 2801-2815

Monday and Tuesday May 7^th and May 8^th    29^th Floor Units 2901-2915

Wednesday and Thursday May 9^th and May 10^th      30^th Floor Units 3001-3015

Friday and Monday May 11^th and May 14^th     31^st Floor Units 3101-3115

Tuesday and Wednesday May 15^th and May 16^th     32^nd Floor Units 3201-3215

Thursday and Friday May 17^th and May 18^th      33^rd Floor Units 3301-3315

Monday and Tuesday May 21^st and May 22^nd      34^th Floor Units 3401-3415

Wednesday and Thursday May 23^rd and May 24^th      35^th Floor Units 3501-3515

Friday and Tuesday May 25^th and May 29^th      36^th Floor Units 3601-3615

Wednesday May 30^th, this progress should continue with the 37^th floor, but we will issue a new notice in advance.

Please contact the office with any questions, at 773-769-3250, or via e-mail at parktowercondo@dkcondo.com.

UPDATED March 23rd

AT&T reported progress has continued on schedule, and as smoothly as we could expect.

They did ask to clarify one thing from our prior postings. While the intended plan each floor day one, is to begin with the ’01 units and work around in number order, they are also prioritizing units where the Owner or Resident is home. If you want to be home, and can’t be on day two, let them know. ALSO, the same goes if you can’t be home day one and prefer they come on day two. For that – if you prefer day two – please let us know in advance ASAP, by sending an e-mail, and we will communicate with their team.

The foreman said,”If the resident wants to make sure we get to the unit while they are home, by all means just come out and let the crew know…”. Whatever is best.

UPDATED March 16th

AT&T Fiber Network Installation

Continuing Upward – 2 Days Per Hallway

Work will be continuing – as expected – from the 10^th floor up to the 55^th floor.

For the most part, through the 9^th floor all has gone as planned, and they will continue upward 2 days per hallway. A fiber line is being run to the main media wall in each unit (ideally where your primary cable outlet is located). Residents are welcome to be home while the work is being done. All residents will need to do, is make sure any furniture or belongings are moved on their designated installation date, so workers can access the wall where your TV is located or a location you designate as a primary media wall. More specific details are attached.

They are expected to complete 1 floor every 2 working days, consistent with the schedule below. They anticipate working inside 8 to 9 units on day 1, and the remainder on day 2. They need about 30 minutes, between 9am and 5pm, to complete the work in each unit. They work in number order, in 3 to 4 units at a time. So they will begin in the 01, 02, 03, and 04 units between 9am and 10am, and as they finish those units, move to 05, 06, 07, 08, and so on. On Day 2, they expect to complete whatever units they do not get to on Day 1, and complete connections in the hallway to the main fiber line running up the building through each storage room.

Progress has been monitored closely, and the planned schedule of 2 days per floor has worked well. Expectations are that this will continue for the foreseeable future as they work their way up. The next several weeks of anticipated progress is as follows:

Friday and Monday March 16^th and March 19^th – 10^th Floor Units 1001-1015

Tuesday and Wednesday March 20^th and March 21^st – 11^th Floor Units 1101-1115

Thursday and Friday March 22^nd and March 23^rd – 12^th Floor Units 1201-1215

Monday and Tuesday March 26^th and March 27^th  – 14^th Floor Units 1401-1415

Wednesday and Thursday March 28^th and March 29^th – 15^th Floor Units 1501-1515

Friday and Monday March 30^th and April 2^nd  – 16^th Floor Units 1601-1615

Tuesday and Wednesday April 3^rd and April 4^th – 17^th Floor Units 1701-1715

Thursday and Friday April 5^th and April 6^th  – 18^th Floor Units 1801-1815

Monday and Tuesday April 9^th and April 10^th – 19^th Floor Units 1901-1915

Wednesday and Thursday April 11^th and April 12^th – 20^th Floor Units 2001-2015

Friday and Monday April 13^th and April 16^th – 21^st Floor Units 2101-2115

Tuesday and Wednesday April 17^th and April 18^th – 22^nd Floor Units 2201-2215

Thursday and Friday April 19^th and April 20^th  – 23^rd Floor Units 2301-2315

Monday and Tuesday April 23^rd and April 24^th – 24^th Floor Units 2401-2415

Wednesday and Thursday April 25^th and April 26^th – 25^th Floor Units 2501-2515

Friday and Monday April 27^th and April 30^th – 26^th Floor Units 2601-2615

Beginning May 1^st, this progress should continue with the 27^th floor, but we will issue a new notice in advance.

Please contact the office with any questions, at 773-769-3250, or via e-mail at parktowercondo@dkcondo.com.

Thank you…Management Office

UPDATED March 2nd – Workers are using both days on each floor to complete in Unit connections.

Additional Q&A

We’ve had a handful of great questions – thank you. This greatly helps us and your neighbors going forward! We can provide more information and help set everyone’s expectations as the installation continues upward through the building.

Q: What’s the progress so far?

A: For now, they are on schedule and will continue as expected. HOWEVER, it is taking a bit longer than they expected in each unit, so they are using both days on each floor to complete the necessary work in the units. For now, the schedule remains consistent with the prior notice:

Friday and Monday March 2^nd and March 5^th 5^th Floor Units 501-515

Tuesday and Wednesday March 6^th and March 7^th – 6^th Floor Units 601-615

Thursday and Friday March 8^th and March 9^th – 7^th Floor Units 701-715

Monday and Tuesday March 12^th and March 13^th – 8^th Floor Units 801-815

Wednesday and Thursday March 14^th and March 15^th – 9^th Floor Units 901-915

Friday and Monday March 16^th and March 19^th – 10^th Floor Units 1001-1015

Tuesday and Wednesday March 20^th and March 21^st – 11^th Floor Units 1101-1115

Thursday and Friday March 22^nd and March 23^rd – 12^th Floor Units 1201-1215

They’ve been able to complete 8 or 9 units per floor on day one, and the remainder on day two. They’ve advised actual work inside each unit is taking about 20 to 30 minutes. It has been minimally invasive, and for the most part feedback has been positive. There workers have been “flexible”, “friendly” and “very accommodating”.

Q: Remind me, why are we doing this – are we changing to AT&T?

A: It’s free. It’s fiber. It’s a dedicated line to each unit. It allows more competition for RCN and other service providers. It’s minimally invasive. Did I say free? And, read more in the prior updates below. 🙂

It is conceivable the Association could end up with AT&T services in the future, and the RCN contract is up in 2019. We do expect AT&T to be one of the bidders, and with fiber based services, they may very well be competitive particularly with what they can offer. Once they are done with the installation though, and it goes live, you will be able to consider their retail services right away.

Q: I don’t want this, and I don’t want them in my unit. Can they skip mine?

A: Well, yes. They will still install the junction point at your door in the hallway. But, in the future, if the Association ends up with a bulk service contract with AT&T, or if a resident in the unit needs a fiber based service in the future, the materials and labor for installation will not be free. And we are told, it will be several hundred dollars to complete the installation from the junction box in the hallway. If they skip your unit, they will not be returning free of charge in the future.

Q: Why didn’t management offer appointments for this work – the schedule is not convenient for me?

A: Because management is not doing the installation. AT&T is managing the installation. So, why didn’t AT&T offer appointments? It is important to remember they are installing a million dollar infrastructure improvement, for free. Logistically and financially it is more sensible and efficient to complete the installation and run the fiber lines floor by floor and unit by unit. But this is also the most convenient process for most residents. Jumping from one floor to another and then another and then back again would be wasteful of their time and ours, tie up the elevators, and result in them being here potentially months longer than they would otherwise need to be.

Q: I don’t need the internet service. Can I cancel it and get it removed from my bill?

A: No. Consistent with the Illinois Condo Act, roughly 5 years ago the Board at the time agreed to roll bulk internet service into the cable contract. The fee (presently $45.61 per month per unit) is for both the basic internet and cable service. It is a part of the assessments. It reflects as it’s own line item on the statements because it is a flat per unit fee, rather than calculated by percentage of ownership.

A survey of owners and residents was conducted at the time. A super-majority of respondents were in favor of the initiative.

Q: DRILLING!? I had no idea they would be drilling.

A: Good question! While we said they are bringing the line in at your door, we really didn’t specify exactly how. Nonetheless, the only way they can get the fiber line through the wall, is to drill a small hole. But they do seal it up, and the residents who’ve commented to me about it, have indicated they did a fine job.

Q: I’m going to be gone when they are in my unit. Can someone stop by in advance, and show me where this is going and tell me what to move out of the way?

A: So far, they’ve been extremely flexible with requests such as this. BUT, if this Q&A results in a 100 residents asking the same question, it would be difficult to accommodate. However, if you are going to be out of town, or just can’t be home from work on the days your unit are scheduled (which is understandable), we will try to coordinate with AT&T so that the rep or foreman stops by to quickly walk you through what to expect.

OVERALL, so far, so good. Please send us your questions…it only helps the process going forward.

UPDATED February 26th – AT&T got underway today as expected.

As expected, AT&T did get underway with the fiber network installation project this morning. The team continues to expect to work on 2 floors per day as the notice indicated. HOWEVER, due to the progress today, they may not get to every unit on day 1 as was hoped and expected. At least for the time being. They will start with the ’01 units and go as far as they can in Unit Number order during business hours. Any units not completed will be worked on day 2 for that floor.

So, for example, any units they did not complete today on the 3^rd floor, will be completed tomorrow, Tuesday February 27^th.

We will be monitoring progress on Tuesday very closely, and get out a revised notice for coming floors ASAP, so Owners and residents know better what to expect.

ALSO, we’ve received a handful of questions from residents of the 3rd floor, and we anticipate more as the installation continues. We will post an updated Q&A by the end of this week, to help residents on coming floors. PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO SHARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. They can only help us help you and your neighbors with greater understanding and expectations as the work continues!

Share any questions, feedback or concerns – just e-mail the office.

UPDATED January 29th –

AT&T has confirmed, they plan to begin the Fiber Network Installation in units and hallways, starting at the 3rd Floor, Monday February 26th, and working their way upward.

To begin with, they anticipate completing a floor every 2 days. So, Monday and Tuesday February 26th and 27th, they will be on the 3rd Floor. Wednesday and Thursday, the 28th and March 1st, they will be on the 4th floor. Friday March 2nd and Monday March 5th, they will be on the 5th floor. And so on. They anticipate needing to be in each unit, no more than 30 minutes to complete what needs to be done.

Over the first few weeks, they will be assessing their progress very closely, and may adjust expectations based on how the first few floors go. They expect to provide us with a weekly progress update each Wednesday, and we will communicate any feedback or changes in expectations to residents as necessary.

At some point they expect to add a second crew. At that time, they would be working on 2 floors at once.

Within the next week or so, we will issue a more formal notice by door drop. In the interim, please review the updates below.  Under “Original Post” is a detailed explanation of the project, and what to expect when they are on your floor and what they will be doing in each unit.

Let our team know if you have any question, just e-mail us.

UPDATED January 20th –

We are still waiting to hold the scheduling meeting with AT&T. When this is finally coordinated, we anticipate a two week minimum notice before they start on the 3rd floor and begin working their way up as described below.

Once this happens, we will follow up by further updating this post.

UPDATED January 12th –

AT&T has advised us they are ready to begin work running the fiber lines up to each floor and into units. We are working on a preliminary calendar now, with a start date and expectations for dates and times they will be on your floors and running fiber lines into individual units.

As of now, the earliest they would begin is Monday January 29th, on the 3rd floor and work their way up from there. If all goes as planned, they expect a day and a half of work per floor, which would put them on the 5th and 6th floors by the end of that week, February 2nd.

This is highly dependent on scheduling a meeting with their team, at which we will hammer out a preliminary calendar to be distributed to the lower floors. We have asked them to work with us to get about 2 weeks notice in advance of entering any units on the individual floors, as they work their way up.

As they begin work the first week, we will closely assess their progress and refine our expectations for timing. But, they have advised it is their goal to be done with every floor within 2 1/2 months. Ultimately, as progressed is assessed, they intend to adjust their labor on site so that the project is finished in that time frame. So a final calendar setting our expectations depends a lot on the assessment of their progress the first week work gets underway.

Once we have the calendar drafted, a notice will be issued and this post will be updated with more information.

ORIGINAL POST:

Representatives with AT&T met with Owners and Residents on Monday November 20th, to discuss the coming fiber network installation, and to answer questions.

The PTCA Board has been working with AT&T for over two years now, to coordinate the installation of a fiber network that at present would bring up to 1 Gig of service capability (upload and download) to each home in the PT community. An improvement to the infrastructure, probably worth somewhere between $1-2 Million, at no expense to Park Tower, except our teams time to coordinate with them (and even for that, AT&T paid the Association $18,000 to help subsidize the labor that will be needed as we escort their workers when they are in the hallways and units). The project is already in the installation phase, with AT&T working in the 1p garage, to bring their main line into the building and installing the hub for the main fiber line that will run through the tower.

This will not change the present bulk cable tv and internet service with RCN. Rather, this will:

1. Allow AT&T to compete in the future, by bidding on the bulk service contract. And,
2. Give Unit Owners and Residents the option to take advantage of their retail services, if you are interested.

The next phase of the project is expected to begin in late January or early February. Their team will start from the 3rd floor and work their way up. The main fiber line will run through the tower with junction points for each hallway, within the storage rooms on each floor. Two lines containing 12 fiber strands apiece will be pulled into the hallways along the seams between the walls and ceilings. (That’s 24 strands of fiber, more than enough for each unit, and extra for the future if needed.) One line will run one direction down the hall, and one will run the other direction.

These lines, about the size of a thin wire or thick piece of dental floss will hug the crack between the walls and ceilings, and join at small junction box above each unit door. Here, at each door, one of the 12 strands will be separated from the line and brought into the units.

Above, is a sample depiction of the fiber line in the hallway, and the junction box. If you you’re thinking ‘huh, I can’t see it’, that’s because it is specifically designed so you can barely see it. At the meeting, the reps also indicated the junction box is actually smaller now, due to recent changes in design; they indicated it will be just a bit bigger than a dental floss container.

From the junction box above each door, a designated strand (about the size of dental floss) will be brought into the unit, where it will be run to a module. You will see a small dot above the door in the unit, where the line comes through. It is very small and can be painted over. From there the fiber is run along cracks and crevices to the module location. Ideally, this module will be located and installed at the nearest outlet in your unit, where your primary media wall is located (where your living room or bedroom TV is). Below is a sample pic of what this will look like:

At the meeting, the AT&T reps indicated their team will be very flexible the day of installation, as to where this module can be located. They are open to trying their best to customize where the line is run to make owners as comfortable as possible with its location. AND, both the fiber strand and the box are designed to be painted over, if you wish, so they can blend in as much as possible.

This box is essentially a central holding point for the fiber strand that will service your home. With this in place, your home will be ‘Fiber Capable’. Nothing would happen, until you decide you want to consider their retail services, or until such time as the fiber network would be utilized for bulk services. (The present bulk contract with RCN is in place until 2019, and at present it is expected AT&T will bid to compete for the TV and/or internet contract.)

If you decide to pursue retail services with AT&T on your own, or should AT&T be awarded a bulk service arrangement in the future, a fiber line would be run from this point to your media outlet location. Again, the dental floss sized line would hug cracks and crevices, up to the media wall where it will be joined with the actual outlet, which will look something like this: