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JGZinv
join:2006-09-26
Borden, IN
edit:
February 11th, @05:01PM
| Financing for Cable or Alternatives?
I live on a road that gets no cable service, although the road next to me does. We do not, and will not be getting DSL from any company that services the area for 3-5 years or perhaps ever (their words). The single WISP that had service is poorly run and tried to do an install on my house that ended in failure. I'm resorting to Sprint EVDO now, which is getting progressively worse in quality. Satellite is out of the question due to latency/quality/weather.
The cable co has a forum here, but not sure it's appropriate to list cost figures - so I'll leave them unnamed. But I've talked with the cable co, who has done 3+ surveys of our road. My road has 59 houses on it. The survey says that from the end of the fiber on the other street to my location is 1 and a tenth miles - and only 15 houses (of which there are 39 I believe) in that span would qualify for service. Houses must be within 250 ft. of the poles plus other unnamed qualifications.
To hang cable to my location and overlook the fact that their 5 year payback analysis says we don't cut it (128 month payback vs. 60 month). They want $19,000. Which figures out to about $3.27 a foot (5,808 ft.).
Now what's worse is that the neighbors I do know well are not on the side of me that would get cable. Each of them wants some form of service from the cable co. If you add in the extra length (1,426 ft.) needed to supply them. The cost is $23,665 (my estimate).
Basically, does anyone know if there's some sort of grants program, or typically a dept with a local government (community development) that would help with even partial funding?
Most of the people in the 15 that likely qualify, are very small rentals - and I doubt they would have the funds. There's a side subdivision that has 5 or so newly built med-large homes, that technically is part of this road, but I don't know that they would indeed get service. The neighbors that are past me, and homes being built there - are business owners and have large homes.
I'm trying to come up with any sort of way that might reduce the overall cost or make it more digestible. Something I'm overlooking..? | |
Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
 ·Comcast
 ·Vonage
·Insight Communicat..
| This is a dead horse that has been beaten so much, that the Authorities may be on to it. Do a search, and most of your answers about this discussion can be found.
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I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! | |
tenpin784
I Went To The Dark Side?
join:2001-03-30
New Durham, NH
·Metrocast Communic..
| reply to JGZinv
Thats dumb.
It sounds like in a little over a mile, 15 houses qualify for service. Others my be disqualified cause of drop length (im guessing that is what the 250ft mark is).
I know in our system, if there are more then 10 houses per mile (so basically, one house every 528ft) we build out to it. I know of one stretch in particular that goes about a mile and a half in Comcast territory to get to a division in our territory.
Our qualifications may be higher or lower to others, and I am guessing because we deal with a lot of rural areas, but, if there are 10 houses per mile (qualified), we build it.
Then on top of that, if the house is far from the road, we build out the first 250 some odd feet for free, and you can have a drop of 100 + feet with no problem, so as long as you were within 400' from the road, you can most likely get it.
How would one go to pay for this? Is it one lump sum before they even build it out? I havent actually talked to anyone who has had to pay for this before.
Hope everything works out.
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Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
Disclaimer: These are MY comments, my employer cant be held responsible. | |
JGZinv
join:2006-09-26
Borden, IN
| Well I've come up with a couple broadband development grants that Indiana just put into effect within the last few years.
However for all the e-mails I send out asking for info - I've received nothing in response. Unfortunately Indiana hasn't thought to just make one site/resource for broadband information.
Basically I'm stuck gathering what few neighbors I do know well - and trying to come to a group consensus for a plan. $24,000 (give or take) is too large probably for us 4 to take on. I don't expect anyone to pop up and say they'll toss $10,000 in the pot.
But like in your example, if I could get 10 people at $2,400, that'd cover it and we'd all start saving (vs. Sat/phone/etc) in a couple years. It's just difficult being that I'm the only well educated computer user in the area - trying to bridge that mental gap.
A good portion of houses are probably past the 250 ft. drop length. Which I'm assuming is Cat5e or Coax line by that figure. My yard alone is about 650 ft. from road to home.
Would it be wise to get an outdoor enclosure and put a powered router or other device in there in order to power the signal... or is there a better way of extending it (not counting wireless)? | |
tenpin784
I Went To The Dark Side?
join:2001-03-30
New Durham, NH
·Metrocast Communic..
| The 250ft mark is the length of the drop cable, which could be RG11 (bigger then RG59 or RG6, which is used in the house). At 250ft, you lose a lot of signal through the coax, so anything longer, and they would have to bring a span of hard cable to somewhere in your yard (whether its on the poles or underground).
Hard cable is the lines that are normally on the poles. They have a much thicker conductor, and, the signal is high, and also has voltage going through it. I know here, they would bring the hardline (as its called) halfway (or in your case, 3/4 the way down) your yard, and then put a tap on, which you would then hook your drop up to.
I am just surprised it is not on your street with that many homes being able to get it with no further construction. I don't know how much a power amp will gain you, I think those only add an extra 8dB, which on a drop that long wouldn't be of much help. Plus, coax amps wreak havoc with internet, and it is actually suggested you put the amp after the splitter for the internet (in the home).
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Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
Disclaimer: These are MY comments, my employer cant be held responsible. | |
JGZinv
join:2006-09-26
Borden, IN
| Would a hard line drop for a yard cost the same typically as it does on the pole?
Well in talking with one of the original residents, ATT even surveyed the road years ago... they didn't care then either.
We used to have 2 fields that were just empty grass but those were bought and 1 turned into 2-3 room mini rentals with about an acre or two around them. The other 10 acre (I think) section was turned into a $250,000+ home section. The rest of the road is simply land locked and already has homes on it - but we each own good size parcels of land.
I did get this today, as to the broadband grants:
We received your email requesting information on the Indiana Broadband Development Program. The OUCC has referred you to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Matt Tuohy, Program Manager can assist you with any question you may have. You may reach him at 317-233-9138 or email: mtuophy@iedc.in.gov
Hopefully that will help those following in my footsteps. | |
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