comcastfan11
join:2003-08-04
Brick, NJ | reply to eXodus
Re: FiOS TV Features Update
I would go for a statewide franchise agreement but unfortunately that will probably never happen. There needs to be some competition to comcast and not in the form of satellite since not everybody can get it. |
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starrin
join:2005-05-29
Virginia Beach, VA
| reply to MinnJohn
said by MinnJohn:
I am doing a research project on the Verizon FiOS rollout.
MinnJohn
Attempted to email you. Bounced! Am also doing VZ FIOS research.
Please email me.
TKS
starrin@virginianewssource.com |
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HBGuy2
|  Anyone know anything about Huntington Beach, CA? HB was early (I got installed in January), but have heard nothing about TV service. |
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TurtleFan
join:2003-05-03
Wyckoff, NJ
| reply to neutronic
As of 4:00 PM today, the FIOS Hummer was spotted at the Drug Fair Parking lot in Wyckoff, NJ. If someone can corner them and ask about the testing of the TV Service, or the update on their franchise service, most appreciated  |
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quadx6
join:2005-08-21
Lewisville, TX
| reply to neutronic
Bill would clear way for TV by phone line
Cable carriers ask Perry to veto plan, which also frees firms to raise rates
08:55 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2005
By TERRY MAXON and SUDEEP REDDY / The Dallas Morning News
Texans may soon have more choice in how they get television service, thanks to legislation passed Wednesday and sent to the governor.
The far-reaching bill gives telecommunications companies the ability to obtain a statewide franchise to offer video service. That provision came over the loud objections of cable TV companies, which historically have had to fight for their franchises city by city.
Some consumers could also face higher rates for basic phone service under provisions of the bill that give telephone companies greater power to set their own prices.
SBC Communications and Verizon Communications, which pushed hardest for the legislation, praised the Legislature and urged the governor to sign the bill.
The Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association said Gov. Rick Perry should veto it and warned of legal challenges on the horizon.
"The next step in this process will almost certainly be the courts," said association chairman Tom Kinney, "where the substantial legal issues contained in this legislation hopefully will be resolved in a more thoughtful way, without the undue influence of hordes of SBC lobbyists trying to sway the outcome in their favor."
Both SBC and Verizon are testing systems to offer video to consumers in the near future, competing directly with cable companies. The industry calls it the "triple play" of telecom services �€“ voice, data and video.
Cable companies have gotten a jump on the competition, adding data and then voice services to their traditional television.
But SBC is investing $4 billion through 2008 to build a fiber-optics system to provide voice, data and video, and Verizon is about to begin selling video service on its fiber-optic network, with the first customers expected in September or October in Keller.
SBC Texas president Jan Newton said more competition means "better prices and better products for consumers."
Steve Banta, Verizon's Southwest region president, said, "All Texans should be proud that our state is the first in the nation to open up the video market so that consumers can have a choice of video providers."
Cable companies had first criticized the legislation as being unfair to cities, saying it permitted "redlining" by letting telephone companies focus on customers in wealthier areas.
Because the Legislature was called into two special sessions to deal with school funding and property tax reform, the TCTA said, lawmakers should have focused their attention on education issues rather than telecommunications.
The industry organization repeated that criticism Wednesday after the House approved the bill 144-1, a day after the Senate approved the same bill. The governor is expected to sign the legislation.
"Even if the Legislature is able to pass some limited reforms on these important issues, SB5 is bad for consumers, bad for competition and bad for Texas �€“ and should not become law," said Mr. Kinney, president of Time Warner Cable's Austin division.
Cable companies with municipal franchise agreements will be at a decided disadvantage to telephone companies, said Dick Kirby, Comcast's executive director for government affairs in Dallas.
"The Texas legislation has the impact of picking winners and losers in the marketplace by giving the big phone companies an unfair competitive advantage," he said. The legislation is "essentially stripping away most of the franchise requirements that all cable operators are required to live with today when they provide service."
Cities had fought earlier versions of the legislation. However, revised bills grandfathered existing franchise agreements and forced new competitors to meet some of the same requirements as franchise holders.
"I think that's why I think you saw the Texas Municipal League and the cities go neutral on this," said Mr. Banta of Verizon.
The bill also would allow telephone companies to raise their basic local rates, which have been frozen for years at about $11 a month before taxes and fees. On Jan. 1, an incumbent telephone company such as SBC or Verizon could raise rates in markets with at least 100,000 population.
Markets with 30,000 to 100,000 people also would be deregulated Jan. 1 if the state Public Utility Commission determines that the incumbent telephone company has at least three competitors, including one providing residential telephone service and another offering mobile telephone service not connected to the incumbent.
Smaller markets of fewer than 30,000 people would be deregulated in 2007 unless the PUC decides they need to remain regulated.
The immediate impact on consumers is unclear, but public-interest groups are wary. The bill was opposed by AARP, Consumers Union, Common Cause, Texas ISP Association, Save Muni Wireless and Technology for All.
"We know you're outnumbered; there are more registered telephone industry lobbyists than members of the House of Representatives," the groups said in a letter Tuesday to state leaders. "But this session was called to reform school finance and lower property taxes, not to appease lobbyists demanding special-interest legislation simply to increase their profits."
Companies and some lawmakers argued that those customers could receive similar service from competitors.
Consumer groups said other options, such as wireless or Internet-based phone service, were priced far higher.
"I expect higher phone bills for millions of Texans who want little- or no-frills phone service," said Tim Morstad, policy analyst for Consumers Union.
The bill also opens the door for electric utilities to carry Internet signals over power lines, a technology that could improve efficiency of the transmission grid and allow consumers to receive broadband Internet service in a new way.
Among the potential services: automatically notifying utilities of power outages, quicker disconnects and reconnects of customers, and automated meter reading. Ultimately, the technology would allow pricing plans from power providers that offer different rates throughout a day.
"These are all things utility companies have talked about and wanted for decades," said Jay Birnbaum, vice president of Current Communications, a provider of broadband-over-power-lines, or BPL, service.
Amateur radio operators have objected to BPL technology, saying it interferes with communications equipment that could be used in emergencies. The companies say that newer technology will not disrupt the radio signals. |
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Taget
join:2004-07-29 | reply to neutronic
300 channels. Sounds familiar. Wonder how many you get once home shopping, pay-per-view, VOD, league sports packages, premium foreign language channels, and music/muzak channels are subtracted? |
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biochemistry
join:2003-05-09
92361 | reply to neutronic
What is a FIOS hummer? |
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sunilonln
join:2003-02-27
Beaverton, OR
| said by biochemistry  :What is a FIOS hummer? see »Anyone else seen the FIOS HUMMER? |
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ThomC
join:2004-12-07
Katonah, NY
1 edit | reply to biochemistry
quote:
reply to neutronic
Re: FiOS TV Features Update
What is a FIOS hummer?
>>>Insert Dirty Joke Here!!!  :o:o
Sorry, but that's just too easy a setup line!
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TurtleFan
join:2003-05-03
Wyckoff, NJ
| reply to neutronic
WE got a phone call from cablevision asking us if we want to sign up for the tripple play of Digital cable, digital phone and modem. We figure this must mean that Verizon is getting close to signing a statewide franchise. Lets hope so |
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TurtleFan
join:2003-05-03
Wyckoff, NJ | reply to neutronic
Is there any direct number to ask about FIOS TV in NJ?
Also, I just got an HDTV tuner. Anyone know if their digital channels will be encrypted or un encrypted?
Thanks |
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snappakazoo
Inconceivable
join:2000-09-10
Wyckoff, NJ | As a fellow Wyckoffian, please post any info you get. I called a few weeks ago and they would not give a time table. |
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TurtleFan
join:2003-05-03
Wyckoff, NJ
| Well, I just called again after a month or two since the last time a nd they said the same thing. Still working on franchise rights...
But, this time they did say to call the local government in Wyckoff and check to see the status of any FIOS franchise agreements, wich I didn't think about.
So if anyone have any numbers, post em |
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