Start here
Start with the building—and your space inside it
To check fiber Internet availability, give providers your exact street address, borough, floor or suite, the service you need and your preferred installation date. Ask whether their fiber already reaches the building and what remains to connect your office.
A provider’s presence in Manhattan is useful background. The answer you need is more specific: Can this provider deliver the service we need to our space, on an agreed schedule and at an agreed cost?
Fiber can be nearby, already inside the building, or installed to an agreed connection point in your office. Each situation involves different remaining work. [1] [2]
01 / Find providers
How do I find providers that serve my building?
Start with your building manager or engineer. Ask which providers currently serve tenants and who coordinates telecommunications access. Use that information to build a shortlist, then check directly with each provider.
Give each provider the same address, suite, bandwidth requirement and desired date. This makes the responses easier to compare.
Public maps can also help identify candidates. The FCC’s National Broadband Map lets you search an address and view provider-reported technologies and speeds. Its filters include fiber and business service. [3]
For an office buyer, the map has an important limitation: its broadband-serviceable-location framework focuses on mass-market service. Large office buildings and other locations expected to use enterprise-grade connections can appear as gray points rather than ordinary serviceable locations. [4]
Treat the map as one discovery tool. A missing provider listing or a gray building marker does not settle whether an enterprise fiber connection can be delivered. Confirm that directly with providers.
02 / Interpret the result
What does “fiber available” actually mean?
Ask what the provider has confirmed so far.
| Situation | What it tells you | What to confirm next |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber is near the building | A network route may be close enough to consider a connection. | Whether a usable route into the property exists and what work it requires. |
| Fiber already enters the building | Part of the physical connection is already in place. | The path to your floor or suite, access arrangements and the service available to you. |
| Service is installed at your handoff | The provider has delivered the connection to the agreed point. | Testing, activation and readiness of your own network. |
The handoff is where the provider presents service to your network—for example, a connection to your router or firewall. It can be in a different room from the building’s fiber entrance. [1] [2]
You may also encounter “on-net,” “near-net” or “serviceable.” Ask the provider to explain what its label means for your order and which details still need confirmation.
03 / The exact location
Make sure everyone is checking the same location
Include these details in your request:
- Street number, street name, borough and ZIP code.
- Building name and any known alternate street address.
- Floor, suite and building entrance, where relevant.
- The location where you want the connection delivered.
- Required bandwidth, or a description of your busiest work.
- Desired service date and building-management contact.
If the property uses several addresses, ask the provider to confirm the physical building it matched. The FCC likewise notes that a single structure can have several associated addresses. [4]
Do not select a neighboring building simply because it appears in a search result. If you cannot find the correct location, request an address review.
You can start the conversation before you know every technical detail. Be clear about what you know and what your IT team still needs to determine.
04 / Surveys and access
Why might a survey be needed when fiber is already close?
A connection needs a usable physical route. Distance is only one part of that assessment.
A survey checks how the cable can reach the building and your equipment, including pathways, obstacles, equipment locations and coordination with the building team. The Fiber Optic Association identifies route inspection and site visits as essential parts of network design. [5]
For example, imagine two offices on different floors of the same building. One already has a suitable path to its equipment room. The other needs a new internal cable route. The building address is the same, but the remaining work differs.
A riser is a pathway between floors. Access to it, shared telecommunications rooms and your suite may need separate coordination. Buildings may also require insurance documents, work authorization, an escort or particular working hours. [1]
A survey does not automatically mean street construction. It establishes what the installation actually requires. [2]
05 / Compare options
What should I confirm before choosing a provider?
Use these questions to turn an availability result into a practical installation plan:
- What service can you deliver to our exact space? Confirm upload and download capacity and whether the service is dedicated or shared.
- Where will you hand off the connection? Identify the location and the work included in reaching it.
- What remains to be verified? Ask about surveys, building access, pathways and any construction.
- What will we pay? Request monthly charges, installation costs, any separately quoted work and the service term.
- What does the schedule depend on? Distinguish an estimate from a contractual commitment and identify outstanding conditions.
- Who handles each part? Name the provider, building and customer contacts responsible for installation and equipment preparation.
“Fiber” describes the transmission medium. It does not, by itself, establish dedicated capacity or the terms of an SLA. Our dedicated vs. shared Internet guide explains how to compare those differences.
If you are buying a backup connection, also ask about shared entrances and routes. Two providers can share part of the same physical path.
06 / Stealth availability
How to check Stealth availability
Use Stealth’s availability checker, enter the address and borough, and confirm the correct building. No name or email is required for the initial availability check. Stealth confirms the floor or suite with you. [6]
You can also browse the building directory. Read the location’s service information and follow the availability check for the next step.
If the building is already connected: Stealth publishes installation within five business days of your order, or a later date you prefer. Coordinate building access and the details of your handoff with the team. [7]
If the building is nearby but needs a connection: service is subject to a site survey. Stealth’s published guidance gives a typical one-to-two-week timeframe for locations needing additional work, subject to survey and building access. Special construction can take longer; confirm the schedule for your address. [6] [7]
Some nearby locations are eligible for an online order subject to survey. Such an order is pending survey; feasibility and timing still need confirmation. Special construction or changes to displayed prices or terms require your separate approval before work begins.
If the address is missing or needs clarification: enter the correct address or contact Stealth for review. For campuses, multiple buildings or unusual address arrangements, provide enough detail to identify the intended service location. [6]
Stealth’s checker describes Stealth’s service options. Confirm other providers’ availability directly with them.
07 / Planning a move
Checking a new office before you move?
Begin the availability check while evaluating the space. Ask for the same details you would need to place an order: service to the suite, installation scope, charges, responsibilities and timing.
Keep the provider’s response with your office-planning documents. If a survey or approval is outstanding, record who is handling it and when you expect an answer.
If you are replacing an existing connection, keep it in place until the new service is installed, tested and ready for your business to use. [2]
Next steps
Check your office address
Start with your building, then confirm the connection to your space.
Planning the network inside a new office? Read how to get Internet and Wi-Fi for a new NYC office. You can also learn how a compatible AI assistant can help check availability and prepare an order.
Property owner or manager? Discuss fiber entry, risers and tenant connections.
References
Sources and further reading
- [1] Stealth Communications — Fiber construction and building access
Building entry, risers, access and installation scope.
- [2] Stealth Communications — What happens during a fiber installation?
Surveys, handoffs, testing and activation.
- [3] FCC — How to Use the FCC’s National Broadband Map
Provider-reported availability, technologies and map filters.
Return to citation: A - [4] FCC — What a Broadband Serviceable Location Is and Is Not
Mass-market scope, enterprise locations and address records.
- [5] Fiber Optic Association — Fiber optic network design
Route planning, site visits and installation coordination.
Return to citation: A - [6] Stealth Communications — Check fiber availability
Address checking and the current availability process.
- [7] Stealth Communications — Dedicated Internet
Current delivery guidance, pricing and service terms.
Prepared by Stealth Communications. This guide helps businesses evaluate availability with any provider. The confirmed installation scope and applicable service agreement determine the details for a particular location.