I learned a couple of things when I was running a hosting company for a living.
1) The "Firm Order Commitment" date is never "the date." Historically, when I ordered a circuit, I scheduled a vacation day on the date they promised. Sometimes, things happened early, and sometimes, very early, but never on the date.
2) Things can go from looking very far away, to "done, ready to go" all at once.
I'm rooting for everyone in section 3, because section 4 follows, and then the section that should have been section 1. :-)