JTRockville
Data Ho
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join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
 ·LINGO
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
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 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to cbrain
Re: will Montgomery county MD ever get fibered?
Sad to say, the consumer perspective didn't much enter into that part of the conversation.
During the "brochure" discussion, the members did explore ways to reach out to the community so they could hear what the issues were, but someone noted that if they mentioned "Comcast" at the next cocktail party, they'd get an earful. Everyone laughed, then moved on to the next topic. It wasn't the only pot-shot taken at Comcast during the meeting, so the group must be aware that people are eager for competition (unless they just think people like to complain).
Since the TAC seems to be very willing to write letters, I was disappointed that no one suggested writing to the County Executive urging that the franchise negotiations be given a heightened priority. Maybe they see Verizon's entry as a conflict of interest since everyone seemed to agree it would reduce revenue, so perhaps no one is interested in speeding up the process. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
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| said by JTRockville  :Sad to say, the consumer perspective didn't much enter into that part of the conversation. During the "brochure" discussion, the members did explore ways to reach out to the community so they could hear what the issues were, but someone noted that if they mentioned "Comcast" at the next cocktail party, they'd get an earful. Everyone laughed, then moved on to the next topic. It wasn't the only pot-shot taken at Comcast during the meeting, so the group must be aware that people are eager for competition (unless they just think people like to complain). Since the TAC seems to be very willing to write letters, I was disappointed that no one suggested writing to the County Executive urging that the franchise negotiations be given a heightened priority. Maybe they see Verizon's entry as a conflict of interest since everyone seemed to agree it would reduce revenue, so perhaps no one is interested in speeding up the process. Isn't it nice to see our taxes supporting county employees so committed to keeping our franchise fees from declining. I guess it's a matter of priority. No wonder we enjoy this level of service. I guess these fees keep our taxes low. And how does Montgomery County compare to other Maryland counties in taxation? |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
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join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
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·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | I heard one of the state legislators speak at a PTA meeting a few months ago. She said because of the enormous amount of revenue that MCMD shares with everyone else in the state, everyone thinks "Montgomery County streets are paved with gold."
Frankly, I'd rather have streets that are lined with glass than paved with gold. |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
·LINGO
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| Oh, the irony...
Look what I found on my wired phone bill. (Yes, I am still holding on to one wired line with the bare minimum usage plan). Surely Comcast knows I don't live in Howard County!
What a Tease
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| This insert is in *all* VZ wireline phone bills sent to Maryland customers (I'm in Prince George's County (and not in Bowie) and have the same insert.) This was *inserted* at the VZ Maryland billing office in Baltimore, as is required by FCC regulations regarding video services and applies to FIOS TV (as the insert itself states); when service goes live in Bowie, this insert will be modified to add Bowie's information. It has nothing to do with Comcast (except that their own bills have a similar insert).
So they aren't teasing; they are simply following the requirements set forth by the FCC in providing this information. |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
·LINGO
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·Verizon FIOS
| said by JTRockville :Surely Comcast knows I don't live in Howard County! Oops, I meant to say... surely Verizon knows I don't live in Howard County! |
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Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse
 ·DIRECTV
·magicjack.com
| reply to nasadude
Signed up for FiOS on a Saturday (online); installed ten days later (Tuesday, 4/4/06). Install smooth as silk, no glitches yet. Live in 20901 (Silver Spring, Mont. Co.) Have one of those ugly distribution boxes right opposite my driveway. Can't wait to get my phone number ported to VOIP and I'll be paying less than I was for DSL + POTS.
Lena |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
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join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
·LINGO
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·Verizon FIOS
| Oh Lena, I'm drooling! One of those distribution boxes (aka Fiber Distribution Hub) would look marvelous opposite the driveway from me.
Would your area code/extension be one of these, if you had a Verizon wired line?
301-649 301-905 301-754 301-592 301-593 301-681 |
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Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD | Yes. |
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DonLibes
Premium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19
| reply to DonLibes
said by DonLibes :said by JTRockville :Did anyone go to Rockville's meeting? Did they vote in favor of "encouraging Verizon to install FTTP"? Exactly how to they plan to "encourage" Verizon to install FTTP anyway? From what I understand, Verizon doesn't need encouragement - they want to install FTTP. The only thing Verizon needs is permission from Rockville for the upgrade. The document linked to in the agenda item indicates that Rockville isn't stopping Verizon from installing FTTP, which is rather curious since Verizon has already installed FTTP in a sizable portion of Montgomery County - parts that don't offer "protection" from Verizon. Why is an extra agreement necessary in Rockville? Was this clarified in the meeting? I went to the meeting and, as soon as I'm done getting tortured by my taxes, plan to write up the, um, experience with some of the more lurid details. But in short, yes, they voted as they promised they would but they spent most of their time demonizing Verizon. If I had been a Verizon VP, I'd have walked out and swore never to return. Better late than never: »libes.com/don/blog/2006/05/rockv···uum.html |
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BarneyBadAss
Badasses Fight For Freedom
Premium
join:2004-05-07
00001
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Lenagainster
said by Lenagainster :Signed up for FiOS on a Saturday (online); installed ten days later (Tuesday, 4/4/06). Install smooth as silk, no glitches yet. Live in 20901 (Silver Spring, Mont. Co.) Have one of those ugly distribution boxes right opposite my driveway. Can't wait to get my phone number ported to VOIP and I'll be paying less than I was for DSL + POTS. Lena Put up your addy so we can drive down your street during a snow storm and see if we can't knock out the ugly distribution box for you.... then perhaps they will come in and put up a pretty pink one or perhaps one with a flower box on it 
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---Barney |
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HouseHome
There's Nothing Like Home
join:2000-10-25
Silver Spring, MD | Hey Barney!!
I live in the 20901 zip code - near four corners (about 1 mile).
Where is your CO? My CO is the one on Georgia Avenue. Do you know whether it has been wired yet?
House |
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NeedFOSpeed
join:2004-01-20
Silver Spring, MD | I am in the 20910 zip in a APT called summit hills.
IS FIOS THERE YET??? |
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HouseHome
There's Nothing Like Home
join:2000-10-25
Silver Spring, MD
·Verizon FIOS
| NeedFOSpeed
No FIOS yet. This is the most bizzare deployment ever! The only humans that seem to know just what the plan(s) is, apparently, are the "engineers". For a business or corporation that bills itself as a "communications" company this lack of information just drives most of us common folk crazy!!! I've given up any hope of ever finding out when or if FIOS will ever come my way. |
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BarneyBadAss
Badasses Fight For Freedom
Premium
join:2004-05-07
00001
·Verizon FIOS
| Well.. no FIOS isn't here ... JUST YET.. they've been busy getting all the units in the MDU all wired and all the underground fiber all put together.
Then, someone comes by every couple of days and leaves these freakin' folders saying "FIOS IS COMMING; FIOS IS COMMING".. and these things sound like it's actually here.
When you call Vz. they seem dumb founded that you are even getting these fliers... I dunno... this seems like a reasonalbe way to run a train... especially if you are expecting a train wreck
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---Barney |
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HouseHome
There's Nothing Like Home
join:2000-10-25
Silver Spring, MD
·Verizon FIOS
| Good one Barney
I've had Verizon DSL since 2000. I'm reasonably satisfied with the service. A'int great, but, better than dial up. My attitude toward Verizon is rapidly heading south because of the FIOS mess.
I get fliers all the time, in my newspaper and in the mail regarding FIOS. But calling Verizon FIOS is a big waste of time regarding availability. No one knows anything. Fiber was strung almost two years ago and that's the last thing anyone on my side of route 29 has seen of FIOS. I've given up. No use wasting anymore time or energy hoping that FIOS will ever materialize. If it ever does get here in my neighborhood, I'm probably not going to sign up. As far as I'm concerned, Verizon is no better than Comcast! And that's pretty bad.
House |
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BarneyBadAss
Badasses Fight For Freedom
Premium
join:2004-05-07
00001
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | I just got a call from Vz. Fios.
They just told me it's available here at my MDU!! 
Unfortunately, while we were talking, the rep and I got disconnected, dunno what really happened... so... I'll have to ring them up in the A.M.
But it seems certain SOME MDU's in Montgomery County are ready for activation and installation!
Woooo Woooo !
I can hardly keep myself contained!!
---Minor edit for clarification... I keep calling (it's 22:30 now) and thier stupid answering machine says they are closed... Gezzzz... all this time I thought they wanted to sell this stuff
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---Barney |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
·LINGO
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·Verizon FIOS
|  Excellent news!
I, on the other hand, pulled myself out of a deep depression (brought on by VZ's June construction schedule), and wrote this to the Gazette:
said by JT, to Tom Grant, cc'd to Steve Earley :
Greetings Tom Grant,
I read a recent article by Steve Earley regarding Verizon's television franchise in Laurel City ("Verizon cable coming to Laurel city"). Residents of Laurel, like those of Bowie, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, and Howard County, will enjoy the benefits of competitive television service as well as the most advanced internet service in the USA. According to the article, Laurel residents (and the others who live in areas where Verizon FiOS TV is available) can get their television service for a much lower price than they are paying now.
In the fall of 2004, Verizon began upgrading services in Montgomery County, and quite a few people can already get FiOS internet service. But if you look at Verizon's construction schedule, deployment of upgraded services in Montgomery County has practically stopped. This is extremely unfortunate for people like me, who live in a "black hole" - a place too far from Verizon's office to qualify for DSL.
Why are some of us left with only plain old telephone service from Verizon, while others get upgrades? Why hasn't Montgomery County negotiated a television franchise with Verizon?
What's the hold up here? Some of us in Montgomery County would like to receive modern services! We're anxious to enjoy the other benefits of competition, like lower prices and improved customer service.
J* T*, Rockville
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BarneyBadAss
Badasses Fight For Freedom
Premium
join:2004-05-07
00001 | JT,
Did you get a reply????
I'll bet I can guess what it is 
If'n I can lend you a hand; just yodel...
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---Barney |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
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| Would you be willing to mount a high-gain antenna on the roof of your building and shoot some of that FiOS down here?
I haven't heard back yet (it's only been a few hours since I sent it). I wasn't expecting a reply - I was just hoping they'd publish it. Then, maybe others who are in black holes will read my letter and wonder why VZ halted deployment in MC, and we could all storm the County Executive's office together.
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