Internet and Cell Phone Service for Strawberry
Status Update - May 2019

The SPOA Board recently contacted Sierra Nevada Communications (SNC)
and Cal.net to get updates on high speed internet service for Strawberry.

SNC reported that it should be able to provide internet service to everyone
in Strawberry barring any special technical complications e.g. no easement
to connect to the residence or business. Interested customers can contact
SNC at (209) 588-9601 or find more plan information and pricing on the
internet at: gosnc.com/index.php/internet.

Cal.net reported that there have been delays in providing Strawberry internet
service. A list of key tasks and estimated updated schedule is as follows:

* Complete California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis work-Summer 2019
* Tuolumne County project approval-Fall 2019
* Request California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to release grant
funds/CPUC approval-Late 2019
* Complete construction and ready to serve is in 2020

This schedule is subject to change in light of needing to get CEQA and Tuolumne
County approvals and is dependent on the length of the construction season due to
weather conditions. Cal.net also reported it is also moving ahead with its own funds
to provide internet service in parts of Strawberry before 2020 via signal transmission
from another site in the area. Interested customers can contact Cal.net at (844) 422-5638
or find additional plans and pricing information on the at: cal.net/internet

New developments regarding AT&T cell phone service for our area include the following:

Epic Wireless (AT&T contractor) applied to Tuolumne County to build a 120 foot cell tower
in Cold Springs. According to Epic Wireless, this project will offer the 4G LTE services to
AT&T customers primarily to the Cold Springs Community. However, once in operation, the
service map indicates cell phone service will be received in the parts of the Strawberry
community. This project was approved by Tuolumne County but was appealed by a local
resident and is currently in litigation. Epic Wireless also reported it will soon be proposing a
project to transmit from Strawberry Peak to better serve the Pinecrest/Strawberry area.
Epic Wireless is projecting to provide this service by or in 2020.