Specializing in Fiber Optic Services

About Zero dB

We have recently acquired Advanced Fiber Response (AFR) of Denver and Advanced Fiber Optics (AFO) splicing division of Salt Lake City.

Zero dB Communications (ZdB) is a leading fiber optic full turnkey contractor headquartered in Spokane Washington with offices throughout the West Coast. ZdB was formed in 2011 to meet the demands for high-quality fiber optic splicing services covering the western United States. With Zach Kuhlmann at the helm, through hard work delivering a quality product, ZdB has grown to a full turnkey design, engineer, construct, splice and test corporation.

ZdB team members have 90+ combined years of outside plant experience. We leverage our knowledge to design constructable projects that meet the customers’ needs today and in the future.

Our Project Management team uses best practices to ensure all constructive and technical aspects are built to the highest standards using materials that meet or exceed customers' recommendations. FTTH, Metro-E, P2P long haul, data center buildout, and 24/7 response are what we do every day. We are proud of our reputation and strive to support the most complicated projects.

Based in Spokane Washington, Zero dB has over 90 years of combined experience in the fiber optic field.

2011

Year Established

1000s

Projects Completed

Fiber Optic Services

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Engineering

The engineering group provides fiber optic engineering services for long haul, metro, and fiber to the home both Passive optical networks and point-to-point architecture. We staff CAD, ESRI, and Outside Plant Engineers. Our project engineering team designs with extensive details exceeding permitting agencies’ and customer expectations. Zero Db Engineering group provides complete turnkey solutions and includes these services in every project we engineer.

  • Consultation defining an overall build strategy including budgetary costs.
  • Work with permitting agencies during the infield design phases of the project to build a permittable design.
  • Design, draft, and apply for permits, utilizing CAD and ESRI products.
  • Create fiber optic logical design(s) based on customer needs.
  • Identify and develop construction standards and specifications that are specific project-based.
  • Creation of Bill of Materials identifying owner and contractor-provided materials, meeting standards required by specific products based upon field conditions and customer requirements.
  • Assist in the preparation of construction bid documents and participate in any pre-bid or pre-contract meetings if requested.
plow

Construction

The construction group performs both aerial and underground construction ensuring the highest levels of quality. We provide ongoing maintenance and 24/7 response services to critical infrastructure. Our Turnkey services allow for rapid recovery of damaged plant supporting our customer’s needs. Safety, quality, and teamwork are built into every job we self perform.

Construction services we self-perform:

  • Aerial installation of strand, fiber and ADSS
  • Utility pole placement, transfers, and removal
  • Underground fiber installation, innerduct, and fiber blowing
  • Underground conduit, vault, and handhole placement
  • Data center duct and manhole placement
  • Directional boring, plowing, and trenching
  • FTTX installation
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Fiber Splicing: Metro & Long-haul

Zero dB was built on the strength of our fiber optic splicing and testing. We splice all types of fiber optic networks, from simple intra-building terminations to long-haul systems across the nation. From OPGW cable on 750KV towers to the largest data centers. Fusing single strand cable up to large 3456ct cables, single, ribbon, spider / freeform, and rollable ribbon. Our technicians are trained to understand the different approaches utilized between long-haul and metro splicing. We can handle any job, anywhere at any time. Zero dB is committed to using the most state-of-the-art equipment from AFL Fujikura.

fiber-characterization

Fiber Characterization

At Zero dB we believe “No job is complete unless it is tested correctly.” We offer the highest quality testing services that are needed to keep up with the tough industry demands and standards, we only use EXFO equipment.

These services include:

  • Complete OTDR testing at commonly used wavelengths
  • End to end span / network testing
  • Splice validation testing
  • Trouble shooting
  • Front-end Connector (FEC)
  • Connector scope shots
  • Insertion loss
  • Power meter / OLTS
  • Chromatic Dispersion and Polarization Mode Dispersion (CD/PMD)
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Inside Plant Engineering, Furnish, Install & Provisioning

ZdB has recently joined forces with NCT Telcom to provide inside plant EFI services to the team. NCT specializes in Central Office, Data Center, and Colocation buildouts throughout the United States.

As part of the turnkey product, fiber turnup services include:

  • Commissioning / provisioning equipment
  • Circuit testing sonet / ethernet
  • BER testing, DSx, OCx, GigE-x
  • Raman laser, signal amplification installation, and testing
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Consulting & Inspection Services

With Decades of experience helping successfully implement a variety of communication networks, ZdB is a partner you can lean on. We’ll help you put a strategic, comprehensive plan in place so you can minimize risk and get your community and customers connected. We support your business development plan by providing fiber infrastructure audits, network planning, capital requirements, and ongoing maintenance expenditure budgets. We can assist with your loan and grant application requirements to build a successful project within budget.

We believe in:

  • Reliability — High-quality fiber optic infrastructure
  • Affordability — Competition promotes fair market pricing
  • Accessibility — Non-discriminatory access for all

Work With Us

Please complete our contact form to inquire about a future project. We will contact you as soon as possible to discuss your project in more detail.

Zero dB Customers

Join Our Team

2024 milestone: We now employ over 100 employees. We are changing the world with every fiber we deploy, test, and certify.

To apply for a job with Zero dB Communications, please visit our careers page.