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Broadband for the people, built by the people
Competition is good, especially when it comes to internet service providers. Unfortunately, it's also rare. According to the White House's community-based broadband report released earlier this year (PDF), 75 percent of customers looking for internet speeds of 25Mbps or higher had a choice between one provider or no service at all. It's especially bad for rural communities, where there's little incentive for major telecommunication networks to bother running lines. Fortunately, people across the world are beginning to take matters into their own hands, investing in municipally-owned companies to build out necessary services. The results often provide faster connections at lower prices than large ISPs would have offered and they frequently turn a profit. Although the FCC has voted to support net neutrality and preempted a few state laws that limit public expansion, lobbyists for large networks are trying to stifle development and 19 states still have restrictive laws in place. The struggle is real, but adequate broadband is essential in modern times. This week we've sampled a few community initiatives that've succeeded in taking control of their own connective destinies in the face of corporate lethargy.
Tennessee's 10Gbps broadband is $299 a month
Remember back when Chattanooga, Tennessee fought the FCC and Comcast earlier this year over broadband regulations? Of course you do. Now the city's back in the news because it's offering 10Gbps internet service that spreads across some 600 square miles and is accessible by "every" home and business. It'll cost those 170,000 homes and businesses, though. According to a release from local utility company EPB, that blazing fast speed will run $299 a month (pretty similar to Comcast) with gratis installation and without a contract. There'll apparently be 5Gbps and 10Gbps options for small businesses and 3Gbps, 5Gbps and 10Gbps pro-level packages for enterprise. Those prices will vary, but almost positively won't be "cheap" for folks like you and me by any stretch of the imagination. [Image credit: Associated Press]
State laws restricting city-run broadband overruled
Today is one of the more momentous days in the FCC's recent history. Its net neutrality vote will get most of the press attention, but its moves to protect municipal broadband from state legislators are also quite important. The proposal adopted today is narrowly focused, but it could have huge implications. What the regulator has decided to do is preempt state laws that seek to restrict the spread of city-built broadband networks in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Wilson, North Carolina. But the agency also reserved the right to intercede on behalf of municipalities on a case-by-case basis if it thought that local or state governments were getting in the way of improving competition and spreading access to broadband internet.
FCC demands that states get out of the way of municipal broadband
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler got his start as a lobbyist for the cable and wireless industries. So, it's no surprise that many are suspicious of his intentions and dedication to fighting for the rights of American consumers. While his recent waffling on Net Neutrality is still cause for concern, his recent statements in support of municipal broadband are worth cheering. In a statement posted to the FCC site, Wheeler said that: If the people, acting through their elected local governments, want to pursue competitive community broadband, they shouldn't be stopped by state laws promoted by cable and telephone companies that don't want that competition. That's about as strong a statement as one can expect from the head of a regulatory body. Plus, it's a pretty blunt challenge to both the industry he once lobbied on behalf of, and the government officials many believe are in their back pockets. In particular he cited the case of Chattanooga, TN which built out its own gigabit per-second fiber network out of frustration with the options offered by the incumbent Comcast.
Xfinity Home Security makes home monitoring and management Comcastic (video)
It looks like Comcast's trial bubble has been something of a success, and now the company is announcing that its Xfinity Home Security Service will be branching out beyond Houston to arm alarms, dim lamps and keep home automation freaks appraised of sports scores in an additional six markets (including Philadelphia, Portland, Jacksonville, Sarasota/Naples, Chattanooga and Nashville). Powered by iControl Networks' Open Home automation and security platform, packages start at $40 a month and feature live video monitoring, lighting and climate control, burglar and fire alarm monitoring, and more -- via touchscreen interface, web portal, and iPhone app. Now you too can put your family's safety in the same hands that bring Gilligan's Island into your home! Video, PR-palooza after the break.
Chattanooga becomes home to 1Gbps internet service, just $350 per month
It pales in comparison to Sigbritt Löthberg's home internet connection, but it sure makes Comcast's Extreme 105Mbps broadband package look downright sluggish. EPB Fiber Optics (Chattanooga's municipally-owned fiber-to-the-premises network) and Alcatel-Lucent have teamed up to offer America's "fastest" home broadband service -- a service that brings 1Gbps (or 1000Mbps, if that strikes you better) directly to your PC. Best of all, the service is actually on sale starting today, and every single home and business within EPB's 600 square-mile, nine-county service area will be able to access the network. Oh, and in case you're wondering, this actually isn't affiliated in any way with Google's own proposed 1Gbps service, which likely means that this record will only sit in southeast Tennessee for a few months. Still, we hear this place is some kind of beautiful in the fall, but make sure you're cool with a $350 monthly charge before pulling the trigger on a relocation. Update: Tipster Jens notes that he can get a 1Gbps connection for 900 SEK per month in Stockholm, or around $126. Baby steps, we Americans are taking.
HD channel expansion roundup
Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say!Read - Verizon to Distribute the YES Network Nationally in High Definition to FiOS 'Extreme HD' Subscribers, Under Multiyear Agreement Read - NBA TV Scores Multiyear Distribution Deal With DirecTV Read - DIRECTV Delivers Local HD Programming To Customers in Bangor, Maine Read - Comcast project to increase available Internet speeds, add HDTV in Farmington, NM Read - Comcast To Begin Rollout Of 22 More High Def Channels - Chattannooga, TN Read - Comcast adds HD channels - Houston, TX DISH adds HD Locals in Tucson [Thanks, Adam] DISH adds KCAL9 in Los Angeles [Thanks, Ryan]
Chattanooga, TN getting another bundle of HD channels from Comcast
With U-verse coming to Chattanooga "sooner rather than later," Comcast has been doing its darnedest to push out new HD channels as fast as possible. After locals received four more in May, one particular tipster has passed along a message from his DVR noting that Hamilton County residents will see CNN HD (423), FOX News HD (428), AMC HD (429), ABC Family HD (444), Disney HD (445), Science HD (446), Speed HD (450) and FX HD (451) on October 28th. Mmm, thanks competition![Thanks, Michael]
U-verse coming to Chattanooga, TN "sooner than later"
AT&T has been teasing the Volunteer State for awhile now with its fiber-based TV service, but it sure sounds like U-verse is coming to Chattanooga in particular "sooner than later." That's according to Greg Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, who also asserts that the company is "working as hard as it can to make sooner as soon as possible." The firm has two full years to get its service operational somewhere in the state, though it'll obviously be advantageous to AT&T to get things cranked up well before then. So yeah, still no definitive launch date, but surely it's not too far off now.[Thanks, Anthony]
DirecTV adds HD locals in Chattanooga, Augusta, Johnstown-Altoona
Coming right back is DirecTV, just a few days after activating HD locals in New York and Nebraska comes word that Johnstown-Altoona, PA, Chattanooga, TN and Augusta, GA are the latest in its 44 planned local rollouts this summer/fall. Better hurry DirecTV, the days are already getting shorter. Beyond the read links is the list of newly-added local networks, proceed with caution, or reckless abandon, it's pretty much the same to us either way.Read - Johnstown-Altoona, PaRead - Chattanooga, TennRead - Augusta, Ga
DISH Network adds four more HD local markets
DISH Network just keeps on cranking down the list of its 22 markets slated for an HD upgrade in the summer/fall, with four going on line today: Albany - Shenectady - Troy, NY; Chattanooga, TN; Lansing, MI; and Syracuse NY. Hope the recent thunderstorms didn't knock anyone's power out, because now you've got one more reason to stay inside. As usual, we don't know what city will be next, but we expect more markets to be added soon.
Comcast HD rollouts continue: 4 more in Chattanooga, TN
Believe it or not, Comcast's HD rollouts are still going strong, with the latest additions happening in Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to our resident tipster, a message popped up informing him that Discovery HD, History HD, Animal Planet HD and SciFi HD would be arriving on June 16th. Call it a hunch, but we reckon quite a few ungrateful Comcast users will be wishing their recent boost included that last station.[Thanks, Reed]
Chattanooga gets its Super Bowl in HD!
We mentioned earlier that a few Comcast subscribers in Tennessee had a petition asking for an agreement between WTVC and the cable provider to get the Super Bowl in high definition on cable. Now it appears they will get what they're asking for; the two companies have worked out a one year agreement that will get service on in time for the game.No mention as to whether or not the petition had an effect, but the people have definitely spoken.
Help Chattanooga get an HDTV Super Sunday
It's just sad that cable vs. local affiliate squabbles will probably cost some people a high definition Super Bowl. In Tennessee, a few residents are trying to do something about it, starting a petition to get at least the Super Bowl shown in HD on cable.Please sign the petition, being HD-less on the biggest game of the year is something we wish on no man.[Via HDBlog.net]
