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Revitalizing Rural Michigan with FTTX Connections
revitalizing rural michigan with FTTX connections
In the high-speed FTTX race, accelerating fiber deployment and connecting customers quickly matters. Before COVID conferencing calls became the norm in 2020, DayStarr Fiber was already connecting Michigan families and businesses to high-speed broadband internet. DayStarr Fiber has humble roots, starting out leasing lines during the days of DSL and Dial-up, but everything changed when the company decided to become an Internet Service Provider (ISP). To build a future-proof network, DayStarr planned to construct FTTX connections, beginning with local businesses that needed faster internet speed to conduct business. Shortly after making the switch to fiber, DayStarr expanded its services to residential customers at a time when even their biggest competitors had DSL, giving DayStarr Fiber a first-mover advantage in FTTX.
Staying ahead in the market is a moving target, but by partnering with Millennium, DayStarr continues to grow with help sourcing fiber materials, finding operational and fiber construction efficiencies, and exploring growth opportunities through geospatial engineering and GIS services.
meet dayStarr Fiber
Creating thriving communities starts with stronger FTTX connections. And in Shiawassee County, Michigan, DayStarr Fiber is a significant force that’s connecting rural communities. DayStarr is the broadband division of DayStarr Communications based out of Owosso, Michigan, the largest city in Shiawassee County. This county may have a modest population of under 15,000 people, but DayStarr has been connecting rural Michiganders to broader opportunities and preserving family ties from afar with FTTX fiber internet since 2006, just four years after the company was founded in 2002.
Supporting Small Town America with FTTX
Community focus is central to DayStarr’s mission as it brings high-speed fiber to rural Michigan. The DayStarr team’s community focus is reflected not only in their efforts to close the digital divide with straightforward pricing and an affordable basic internet package but also in their paid community service hours and the stories they love to share of how they’re strengthening family bonds across geographic barriers through FTTX fiber connectivity. Particularly moving are customer stories of bringing servicemembers closer to family, whether it’s a chance for remote conferencing calls or the ability to work from a family home during military leave.
Customers they serve
Even before COVID, the DayStarr team was bringing high-speed fiber to their local communities, and the company’s local ties corresponded to high customer loyalty. DayStarr provides high-speed fiber internet from 100M up to 2500M (2.5G) to residential and commercial customers in rural Michigan communities in Shiawassee County and parts of Clinton County. The majority of businesses they serve are small ma and pop shops.
Total fiber laid since DayStarr was founded: 200+ miles
Fast-Tracking FTTX Growth With Help from a Local Partner
Becoming and remaining a significant FTTX fiber network in the Michigan market is possible for DayStarr with access to Millennium’s ecosystem of end-to-end broadband solutions, which the DayStarr team has been tapping into since the partnership began in 2008.
Materials Planning & Inventory Management
DayStarr Fiber began working with Millennium in 2008 to speed up material deliveries by taking advantage of Millennium’s nearby warehouse. On top of quick material deliveries, Millennium’s local market demand forecasting also provides DayStarr with a reliable flow of materials to meet planned project milestones. DayStarr gets a huge lift in managing their FTTX fiber construction by taking advantage of Millennium’s personalized inventory solutions. To help DayStarr save time on the quoting process during reorders, Millennium created customized material kits for DayStarr that include five consistently ordered products they need in their fiber construction. Millennium stores these kits in their warehouse and by tracking DayStarr Fiber’s project milestones, DayStarr experiences faster ordering and fulfillment.
Staying on the pulse of industry technology is also easier for DayStarr as the Millennium team regularly consults with them to share new product solutions that can reduce labor or installation costs and improve network performance like the latest plug-and-play Commscope splice cases.
“We’re always open to learning how we can improve our network and service for our subscribers, so we keep our lines of communication open with Millennium and welcome discussions on the latest products and broadband solutions that are available. These conversations help us meet our goal of upgrading service as we expand our network.” – Jared, Outside Plant Manager at DayStarr Fiber
FTTX Planning & Geospatial Consulting
Before diving into a new FTTX broadband project, having a full grasp of the potential ROI with GIS design is beneficial. And now locking in a GIS partner to help with your High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD) is essential when broadband funding like the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program requires networks to have HLDs. When DayStarr wanted to explore the ROI of a given project for a grant application, they chose to work with the Millennium Geospatial team to create an FTTX design plan.
“It was incredibly easy to work with the Millennium Geospatial team. They helped us with a feasibility study and a network design plan, taking all of this technical information and making it accessible as a roadmap for us to apply for grant funding.” – Colin Rose, President at DayStarr Fiber
Future FTTX Growth Backed By Millennium
Heading into 2024, DayStarr is looking outside of Owosso, Michigan, for new FTTX growth areas. The team is considering build-outs in smaller rural commuter neighborhoods adjacent to their current service areas and working on solidifying their next business steps. Even with all the uncertainty, one strategic business strategy is certain for the DayStarr team, and that is continuing to partner with Millennium and having a robust ecosystem of broadband solutions at their fingertips to meet any unforeseen business need from planning, funding, and materials solutions to rentals & leasing options.
The DayStarr Fiber Team
COLLIN ROSE – President
JARED JACKSON – Outside Plant Manager
Future-Focused Network Owners from
Coast to Coast Look to Millennium For:
- Feasibility Studies & Network Design Plans
- Financing & Grants
- Project Resource Management
- Material Supply & Logistical Planning
- Equipment Leasing & Rentals
