Important iFiber Information
iFiber is sharing the following information as part of its ongoing commitment to providing excellent customer service, including equipment maintenance.
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Please don’t work in the cabinet, enclosure, and/or equipment labeled as iFiber. This could accidentally cause service interruptions in your location and could impact others as well. Call NIMC at 877-753-8100 or e-mail nimc@niu.edu if you notice damage to the equipment/enclosures, or have questions about anything that looks out of place.
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Contact sales@ifiber.org and/or your local iFiber Outreach specialist if you are aware of, or are planning, any construction to your building or property. iFiber will investigate and determine if this could impact the connection or equipment. As a reminder, only iFiber contractors are allowed to relocate iFiber cable, enclosures, and equipment.
- iFiber engineers work to maintain the iFiber equipment remotely. Unless instructed by an iFiber engineer/Outreach specialist, please do not unplug or attempt to connect to any iFiber equipment.
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If you find that your Internet services are running slow consistently, contact sales@ifiber.org and let us help. iFiber provides your connection to the world via fiber. Individual services (such as Internet or phone service) are via a third party ISP. If anything is partially working (e.g. the Internet works, but is just slow), it’s quickest to start with whoever provides that service. iFiber will always support customer concerns; however, most often there is an issue with the service and not the fiber lines. Fiber is one of the most stable connection types and iFiber is committed to doing a great job managing its services. iFiber also can provide bandwidth reports to show you how your service is used and help you make an informed decision.
- iFiber is a community-based, not-for-profit organization with an Open Access fiber system in your area. iFiber has low-cost solutions for both public and private entities. High-speed networks are crucial to the future of northwest Illinois communities.
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Electronic Waste Recycling Offered
iFiber is pleased to share information about a not-for-profit organization, PCs for People (501(c)(3), a national leader in IT Asset Disposition. PCs for People will work with iFiber Community Anchor Institutions interested in donating excess computers and other electronic items for recycling or data destruction. Recycled computers are refurbished and distributed back into the community to support equal access to technology for low-income families.
PCs for People currently is supporting an effort in Whiteside County, IL, partnering with the Whiteside Area Career Center to give away 500 computers to low-income individuals. Members of PCs for People's governing board have advised participants in the Accelerate Illinois program.
PCs for People offers asset pickup and removal, asset label/tag removal, certified drive removal and data sanitization, environmentally-responsible recycling or refurbishing, and detailed reporting with certificates of destruction. Please note: minimum quantities apply for pickup service.
PCs for People accepts computers & accessories, home entertainment equipment, servers & data center equipment, mobile devices, and office items.
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Broadband Use Reflects
Diverse Community Interests
(Editor's note: this story by Sean Buckley originally was published in May/June 2022 by Broadband Communities Magazine.)
Communities’ broadband efforts drive diversity and enable more work, education and entertainment choices. As the U.S. government doles out billions in funding for broadband to states via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, one consistent theme emerges: This is a once-in-a-generation moment to bring broadband to communities with limited or no options.
Service providers – an ever-evolving group – find communities welcoming fresh ideas. Many communities need to be educated about how broadband can make them more attractive to prospective residents and businesses. Broadband also enables other applications, such as remote learning and supporting E911 public safety systems.
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iFiber helps
build communities
Examples of how iFiber builds have benefited residents and businesses:
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iFiber worked with SwedishAmerican Health System in Rockford, IL, to establish a COVID-19 vaccination site at Loves Park City Hall. FULL STORY
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Jo Daviess County has realized significant annual cost-savings and efficiencies since joining the iFiber Network in 2013. FULL STORY
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TriRivers Data Center, Rockford, is an important iFiber Data Center partner, vital to iFiber’s mission to provide services to help customers save money while giving access to an advanced infrastructure and greater bandwidth. FULL STORY
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The iFiber network is helping FRANTZ Manufacturing Co., a 109-year-old Sterling company, convey its products and ideas at Silicon Valley-like speeds. FULL STORY
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iFiber Board Recognizes Bergeron |
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Matt Parks, iFiber's Executive Director, congratulates iFiber Board member, Lisa Kaye Bergeron (far right), on her retirement from Northern Illinois University. Bergeron will continue to serve on the iFiber and Fiber Ventures boards. |
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iFiber's Board of Directors recently recognized long-time iFiber board member/officer, Lisa Kaye Bergeron, on her retirement this Spring from Northern Illinois University. Lisa served as the Director of the Illinois Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center at NIU. She managed a team supporting physicians and practices throughout Illinois in health information technology and quality improvement. During her career at NIU, she provided expertise in the development and implementation of economic, community, healthcare, broadband, and workforce development projects. Lisa’s educational background includes Masters degrees in the Management of Information Systems and Public Administration and Bachelors degrees in political science and psychology. Lisa will continue to serve on the Illinois Fiber Ventures Board, and also the iFiber board in the role as Secretary. Lisa has been involved in iFiber since its inception in 2010.
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Donations to Huskie Closet Help NIU Students |
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The Huskie Closet is a student-initiated, student-led resource supported by Northern Illinois University's Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies. iFiber invites you to join us in offering ‘’clothes for all.’ The Huskie Closet is open for students to take clothing freely or to donate/upcycle clothing they already have. Last semester the Closet kept over 700 pounds of clothing out of landfills. It also made students happy with warm winter items, nice career/interview clothing, and fun everyday outfits. Huskie staff can get involved by donating usable clothing, or by volunteering to help sort clothing, organize, and staff the Closet. For more information or to donate/volunteer, visit the Huskie Closet website: (https://www.niu.edu/clas/nonprofit/huskie-closet/index.shtml)
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Call JULIE Before You Dig
iFiber urges you to call 811 before you dig to avoid service disruptions and damage to buried utilities...any day from January through December!
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E-Rate is a program of USAC that gives funding to schools and libraries through an open bidding process. USAC, or the Universal Services Administrative Company, is an entity designated by the Federal Communications Commission responsible for administering a roughly $10 billion fund that can be used to pay for Internet connections within impoverished regions, whether rural or urban. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) has entered into state master contracts with vendors to support ICN customers for their E-rate category 2 purchases. The state has already conducted a competitive bidding process and selected vendors. Additional information is available on the iFiber website.
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Northern Illinois Monitoring Center (NIMC) is designed to provide wide-area support for iFiber customers.
For urgent issues, please call the NIMC number 1-877-753-8100 to reach a live agent. For non-urgent issues or questions, you are welcome to Email NIMC at nimc@niu.edu. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at sales@ifiber.org.
Network Administrators: Register your organization's contacts at nimc@niu.edu. Sign up for e-mail alerts for advance notice about maintenance on the iFiber network or notification of a network down at www.nimc.niu.edu.
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Illinois Fiber
Resources Group
(Not-for-Profit)
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P.O. Box 755, Sycamore IL 60178
(815) 753-8113
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