Attention: Future Upgrades and Equipment
Re: Future Spectrum Upgrades and Resident Equipment
This notice is to inform all Spectrum Bulk Program participants
that Spectrum will be continuing their infrastructure upgrades on
the Indian Island broadband network once the warmer weather
arrives. With these upgrades, they’ve further informed us residents using older modem and router equipment could lose their connection, Wi-Fi or suffer severe degradation of service. The same would apply to residents who use 3rd party modems and routers not provided by Spectrum. The new compatible equipment can be ordered for no added cost from the Spectrum Community Development Program at (833) 267-6094.
If you ordered Spectrum within the last year, you should have the new equipment, however, if you are not sure, Spectrum or APS can verify this for you. We have advised multiple times in the past, residences on older equipment are not going to receive the full benefit of speed and capacity of the current network or the upgraded network. The Bulk Program speed is 1 Gigabit p/s. Folks on older equipment will only be receiving up to 400 megabits p/s, or around 40% of that throughput. We once again encourage folks to order the new equipment to enjoy the full 1 gigabit speed.
If you have any questions, a Spectrum Community Development rep can answer inquiries, or certainly call the APS office, where we can answer any questions you may have.
Thank you
All Pine Solutions, LLC
(207) 817-0373
Thank You!
We would like to thank all the folks who have expressed their appreciation for the Penobscot Spectrum Bulk Internet Program.
After a year in operation many people have expressed gratitude for the savings of hundreds to over a thousand dollars a year. This was the whole intent of the Chief’s office and APS entering into this agreement – to save our residents meaningful resources for ever-rising internet costs.
Are you still being billed by Spectrum?
Please check your Spectrum bill for the internet line item and head on over to the FAQ Page
Previous Balances with Spectrum
If anyone has past due internet debt with Spectrum prior to the 01/12/2024 transition, Spectrum will still be trying to collect under internet services, however, this is fully unrelated to the PINE bulk program. Indian Island residents are still obligated to pay for the services they are receiving under the bulk services program. We will inform folks; we do have the capacity to turn off folk’s internet services for non-payment of their internet services bills. Please know, this is the very last resort we hope to have to use, but people not paying is not fair to all those Island residents who have made diligent efforts to pay their monthly bill without issue.
We are here to answer any questions you may have
We do recognize, even after repeated notices released to the community, that some residents still do not fully understand how the billing system works. If there is still confusion at this point in time, we are available M-F at (207) 817-0373 from 9AM-5PM. We have finalized the recurring payment option through the PINE payment portal as well as the electronic checking option.
FURTHER NOTE – We do not force anyone to participate in the bulk internet services program. If anyone chooses to forgo this opportunity, this is certainly their right. However, we unfortunately must share that Spectrum has added a new policy, where if a resident opts out, they will not be allowed back on the program. We know a small percentage of residents will have valid reasons why they choose not to participate. that is fine and their choice. Please be aware though, in the future, opting out of the program could potentially mean opting out for good. We are however negotiating with Spectrum, especially over the confusion over the end of the Federal Government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) subsidization was discontinued on May 1st, 2024. Please note, the ACP program had absolutely no relation to the PINE Bulk Spectrum Program, though ACPs ending was coincidental to the timing of the bulk program starting up.
Thank you
Important Numbers
PINE Internet billing and questions about the program: (207) 817-0373
For New Orders to the Bulk Program, call: (833) 697-7328
For Internet Service/Wi-Fi Tech Support, call: (833) 697-7328
The above numbers are for Spectrum contacts, who will add new accounts to the program, send the newly required equipment, and ensure your current internet is transferred to our program. Spectrum will continue to bill separately for any other Spectrum services customers receive from Spectrum, including TV cable packages and phone land line. Also, please note, with Spectrum upgrading their internet speed from 300 Mbps to 1 Gigabit, residential customers may need to call the (833) 697-7328 phone and request the upgraded Cable Modem & Wi-Fi Router to get the 1 Gigabit speed. Otherwise, the older equipment will bottleneck at around 400 Mbps speed. Spectrum can only provide this new equipment, not All Pine Solutions. Also note, to get the 1 Gigabit speed devices, such as computers, laptops, phones, gaming consoles, tablets, etc., must also include the latest hardware and/or firmware updates to handle the 1 Gigabit throughout. Folks using older hardware will experience similar bottlenecks and throttling issues, like using an old Spectrum modem & 3rd party router. Again, please call us at (207) 817-0373, we will be happy to explain these factors of the 1 Gigabit speed and how to best attain the higher speeds. Folks should recognize, just using the new Spectrum Wi-Fi router will deliver 400-600 MBPS, due to how wireless and hardware overhead handle actual coaxial delivered internet services.
Portal Safety: Note, our payment portal and website are encrypted, all information given using the portal is protected under multiple security safety protocols.
Promos, other prices discrepancies: We have received a report that an end user’s rate for their phone/cable service increased above the current promo rate they were under, after the internet services were removed from package bill. This should not have occurred because of separating out the internet services. During our due diligence, and negotiations of this deal, this specific situation negotiated with Spectrum, and they informed no changes would be made and those promos rates for the other services would still be honored (until such time the promo itself expired.) If you believe this has happened to you, please contact us at your earliest convenience, we will certainly contact Spectrum and find out why this is showing up on your bill, and work to have it corrected. Again, no other services should increase while participating in the Bulk Purchase Program. We are here to help address all events inconsistent with the program that we agreed to with Spectrum.
Thank you.
Internet Payment Portal
Welcome to the All Pine Solutions, LLC, online payment portal for the Penobscot Spectrum Bulk Purchasing Agreement. The Bulk Program cost is $32 a month for 1Gb speed.