What is Rainbow Fiber?
Rainbow fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) is the delivery of a communications signal over fiber optics to a home or business. This fiber connection is superior to any existing copper infrastructure such as telephone wires or coaxial cable. Fiber is a relatively new and advanced method that delivers virtually unlimited Internet bandwidth to consumers and businesses. Current fiber optic technology can provide two-way transmission speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second. That’s 1 Gig! Further, as cable modem and DSL providers are struggling to squeeze higher bandwidth out of their technologies, ongoing improvements in fiber optic equipment are constantly increasing available bandwidth without having to change the fiber. As technology continues to demand more and more Internet bandwidth, your fiber will be ready to grow with it. That’s why fiber networks are said to be future proof!
Select your community to see available packages.
Unrivaled Reliability
Whether wind, snow or busy times of the day, with fiber-powered services from Rainbow, you’ll always be connected when it matters most.
Entertainment
Having fiber to your home can turn your home into an entertainment hotspot.
- Stream HD & 4K shows and movies
- Gaming
- Stream fitness classes on gym equipment
- Connect Alexa devices throughout home and use as intercom system or whole-home speakers
Incredible Speeds
With connectivity speeds up to 1 Gig, you’ll experience fast, reliable Internet the way it was meant to be.
Select your community to see available packages.
1. How do I sign up?
2. What is the advantage of a fiber network?
Fiber networks are the most advanced and reliable networks. It offers the most up-to-date technology and is considered future proof.
3. What is the difference between different types of Internet connections?
Coaxial: Distance becomes a problem. Bandwidth can degrade quickly and can require extenders every 5,000 feet.
DSL: Minimal speeds are available and distance is very limited.
Fiber: Deliver speeds and transmit data at a fast rate and have low latency.
4. How does Rainbow fiber benefit my town?
1. Faster Internet: Our network is capable of keeping up with the technology demands of residents and businesses. Fiber is able to provide the fastest download and upload speeds, allowing consumers to do as much streaming, gaming, and file uploading as they wish.
2. Increased Home Value: Having access to fiber at your home increases your home value by 3.1%. A study from the Fiber Broadband Association showed that a house that has fiber access adds 1.3% value and adds an additional 1.8% if the house can support up to 1 gig. Adding 3.1% to your home’s value is equivalent to adding $5,437 to the sample median home price. That’s like adding 1 full fireplace, ½ bathroom, or ¼ of a swimming pool.
3. Community Development: A fiber network can help a city position their community for tomorrow’s jobs and economic growth. Chambers and economic development groups will be able to show developing businesses the possibilities their business can do with their broadband connection.
5. Will anyone within the city limits be able to connect to your fiber network?
For our existing cable system towns, including Hiawatha, Highland, Horton, Sabetha, Seneca, Troy, Wathena, and Elwood, Rainbow will build fiber internet to all current Rainbow customers.
6. How long will it take to get fiber to me?
Unfortunately, building a fiber internet network takes years of planning and construction. Rainbow works with engineers to stake the neighborhoods and create the network design. We contract an experienced construction team to bury the mainline and sometimes the drops. We work with utility companies to make the poles ready. While our fiber optic internet is as fast as the speed of light, building the network seems frustratingly slow.
Atchison – We continue to build in the city of Atchison. Please check the map here to see where Rainbow fiber is available and what fiberhoods are currently under construction.
Hiawatha – Construction is expected to begin Summer of 2023, and we hope to install Rainbow fiber in our customer homes in Spring 2024.
7. Has Rainbow ever done fiber before?
Yes, we have fiber built in Effingham and Lancaster.
8. What services can I get?
9. What is the process for getting fiber to my house?
For Atchison — First, show interest by filling out this form. Once we have reached the percentage goal of level of interest for your fiberhood, you will transition to the construction stage. Once construction is complete, your fiberhood will go to the sign-up phase.
The sign-up stage will consist of selecting the plan that best fits your business or family’s. The commitment fee will be applied to your first month’s service. Once there are enough commitments for your fiberhood, construction plans will be underway!
For Hiawatha – Rainbow will contact you when it is time to install fiber at your home. Our customer relations team will work with you on your new speed plans, which will, at the minimum, be 3x times faster than your current plan.
It is important that you express your interest in the fiber network to your neighbors. The faster we reach the percentage goal of interest for your fiberhood, the faster you’ll receive access to our fiber network!
10. How do I know what speed would be best for my household?
Click here to take our interactive broadband calculator.
11. How do I know what speed I have now?
Click here to take a speed test.
You may want to take it several times – at different times of the day to see how doing different activities will require different amount of bandwidth.
12. Is there an installation charge?
No! Installation is free of charge.
13. Will my yard be impacted by the build?
Yes, it is possible that your yard will be impacted by the fiber network. The construction crews will always use the right of way if possible. However, each yard and home are different and can vary by the outdoor circumstances.
14. Will any roads be impacted or closed?
Should there be any roads closed, our construction crews will work with the appropriate party (for example, the city) to ensure everyone’s safety.
15. How do I check the progress in Atchison or rural Doniphan County?
Checking the progress of your fiberhood’s interest is easy! Simply, click here and re-enter your address and click “Find”. The screen will show you a map of the city of Atchison along with a progress bar that shows the percentage of interest submitted.
Please do not select “I’m Interested” again if you have already submitted interest for your location. If you are unsure if your address has submitted interest, please give us a call at 800-892-0163.
16. How can I speed up the process of getting fiber to my neighborhood in Atchison or rural Doniphan County?
When submitting your interest through the site, be sure to have your friends and neighbor email addresses handy. At the end of the interest submission, you have the option to share on social media & emailing your friends and neighbors. The email contains the link that they need to submit interest for their location.
If you’ve already submitted your interest and didn’t have your friend’s email handy, you can fill out a form through this link and your friend will receive an email letting them know you submitted interest and thought they might be interested, too!
17. Can I use my own wireless router?
Yes, customers may choose to use their own wireless router. However, if you don’t want to worry about installing, setting up, and managing your own router, you can choose to rent a router from us. Information on our wireless router can be found here under the Premium Wi-Fi section.
18. What is a fiber drop and when does it get installed?
A fiber drop consists of a fiber cable that connects the fiber cables from our network to the Network Interface Device on the side of your home. Our construction crews will be around to run your fiber drop during the construction phase of your fiberhood.
You may be wondering why your services aren’t installed once your fiber drop is ran. This can happen for a number of reasons. The fiber process involves a few different construction crews working on different aspects of the project simultaneously. Sometimes the fiber drop crew will make it to your property before the splicing is done for your neighborhood.