| > Such requirements kill fiber development. Laying fiber is expensive, and having to lay it through neighborhoods where most people won’t or can’t subscribe just increases the price for everyone. I'm sorry, but I just don't see it. I've worked with and for several telcos, I know the value of a customer that is locked into older infrastructure. Fiber is not more expensive, it's upgradable and properly done it's reasonably future-proof and Telcos know it. So no, these requirements do not kill fiber. These requirements force telcos like comcast to be competitive and not selective where fiber is installed. I know this because directional drilling is a very low-cost installation at about $10 a foot, permits for a neighborhood run you about $5000 and fiber runs will cost another $6 a foot. Now fiber network gear can be expensive, but again I remind you that I've worked with telcos... they already have most of the big bad gear in place and only need to put in more expensive singlemode runs to rural areas. So I call bullshit. So heres my life because of telcos that make these complaints and politicians just don't give a shit:
I've been in my house for a few decades and until this year my only choice was Comcast for anything over 100mbit internet. I spend $250 a month because Comcast forces me to bundle my internet with TV and Phone (and they call often to have me add cell and security). Then a local company came into the neighborhood this year offering Gigabit fiber for 1/4 the cost I'm spending now. All of a sudden, Comcast, Centurylink and even the local utility company are out spending money I guess they didn't have to upgrade their networks to support fiber. 7 months of my yard (easement and telco junction) has been home to a variety of heavy machinery, as they run new upgraded infrastructure using directional drilling. Somewhere in June I get an email from comcast that my internet was upgraded "for free" and now I have 1.2gb/40mbit, doubling my paid speed and if I sign a 2-year term today (with 6mo payment penalty for canceling), I'll pay 50% less and receive unlimited internet if I put in their modem. Let's just say I signed up with the local company and that activates this next month for synchronous 1gb fiber for $59 a month. > It’s not just the traditional telcos or cable companies. There is a reason Google Fiber has this concept of “fiberhoods” where you need a certain level of demonstrated interest in subscription before they’ll build in those areas. You know why google fiber wasn't successful? It's because people are lazy. If I wasn't motivated to kill off TV and Phone services that I NEVER use, I'd just stay with Comcast. Comcast will match the Internet only service price of $59 for 1gb internet the day I call to cancel. I have zero reason to change, but amazingly I can and NOW Comcast is flexible with pricing and options. |
It doesn’t sound like Comcast built fiber in your story. 1.2 gig down/40 meg up sounds like cable.
> You know why google fiber wasn't successful? It's because people are lazy
I didn’t say anything about Google Fiber being successful or not. I’m asking why Google wouldn’t agree to these community coverage requirements.