| reply to mouseferatu
Re: Fairpoint can do fiber in Vermont and here is how... I think this would be a big win for Fairpoint; not only would it set a precedent that a smaller company can put together a FIOS equivalent network but in one of the hardest areas to launch it.
There has been the promise from the beginning that everyone from the most rural to the most urban would have what was said to be tomorrows information superhighway, when I think of that term, I think of FIOS or a FIOS like network.
There is some alterations to the original suggestion though.. here's how I see it happening..
1)
Vermont would grant Fairpoint a 10 year video statewide franchise, Fairpoint would purchase a video head end setup. They would also ask various banks to open up a new secured loan program to front the cost of the fiber from the FTTC (fiber to the curb) location to the FTTH (fiber to the house) location as well as the battery backed up ONT (or MDU where applicable) as mentioned below.
2)
People would put in orders for various services in different areas across the state, Fairpoint would decide what areas they will offer the service first.
3)
The way it would work is the customer would sign up for 2 years of service with Fairpoint (the triple-play) will give them back their investment the fastest. Though you are paying for a fiber, what the customer does get is the promise that when they look for service in their home, it will be turned on in a reasonable fashion and that there will be one reserved for them; it doesn't mean they will get the same fiber they bought (for ex: joe at 1 z ave & john at 2 z ave buy a fiber, even if joe only stays thru the summer and john only stays in the winter, they both must pay for their fibers. One of them may be bad at any one given time and left that way; What Fairpoint would promise is when you are there, you have a live fiber and service).
A special secured bank loan would be offered to customers to be paid back within 10 years with no pre-payment penalty. Suppose the total cost was $2,000, the payment could be as low as $15/mo for the customer. If not paid back within 5 years because service had never started, Fairpoint would assume a 20% responsibility per affected fiber much like the way PMI works for mortgages. This insures that its in the best interest of Fairpoint to get it all working. An escrow account would be set up to cover the costs at the customers end. Fairpoint would advise the current cost, pick the brand & type of fiber and/or equipment & arrange its installation (since, after all they have to maintain it and ensure you continue to get service).
4)
Fairpoint could turn on service there at any time but would commit to installing and turning up the services as soon as at least 10% of the people in that area have signed up for installation. Fairpoint would put together the internal network including their Video Head End and any other network elements as well as the (fiber to the curb) FTTC cross box and connect the purchased hand-off fiber as each customer gets turned on, they would also pay for the set-top boxes as they are needed & the voip router.
5)
Once service is up and working, every even month, you pay nothing. (ie: triple play. mo 1:$95, mo 2:$0, mo 3:$95., mo 4:$0, but note; regardless of where you left off, if you have seasonal service before a free month and you restart it, you will start your first month billed.). Once the (every other month discount) fully subsidizes the cost of the fiber, that fiber would exclusively belong to Fairpoint.
In the case of a small business with service in same name but where boxes are not necessarily in the same building (ex: bungalow colony), Fairpoint will support 1 ONT for up to 12 boxes and will bill separately such as, John Doe-Unit 1A, John Doe-Unit 1B, John Doe Unit 2A, etc. The labels would be chosen by John Doe during setup but all the bills would be sent to him. |
