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Connecticut Tries to Do Something About State's Poor Broadband

Representatives of state and local governments in Hartford, New Haven and Stamford have joined forces to try and bring faster broadband networks to Connecticut. The collective group has issued an RFQ to promote the deployment of gigabit broadband networks and services in "targeted commercial corridors" and locations "with demonstrated demand." They've also put the call out to any additional under-served communities, who can add an addendum to the RFQ to get involved.

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"It’s time we tear down the walls to gigabit Internet access in Connecticut," said Connecticut Senator Beth Bye. “Not only will businesses and universities thrive, but consumers will benefit from the lower prices and wider access that this initiative will create. We have the will and I believe we have the ability to make this happen for Connecticut."

The effort comes as AT&T looks to exit the fixed-line broadband market in Connecticut with a sale of all their network assets to Frontier Communications. AT&T's fixed-line investment lagged as it focused on wireless, and as in many states, competitor Comcast took advantage of AT&T's lack of competitive interest.

Connecticut's plan also comes as municipal broadband efforts see invigorated attention thanks in part to Google Fiber and FCC boss Tom Wheeler's claims that he may look to eliminate state bans on such projects.

Bye and Consumer Counsel's Elin Swanson Katz claim that businesses have been complaining that they're unable to get the speeds they need in Connecticut, comparing the state's infrastructure to "rural villages in Mexico":
quote:
Business leaders shared stories of the challenges they faced obtaining critical Gig service. One person spoke of "negotiating down" the price for a Gig from Comcast — to $3,000 per month! Another spoke of his international company's struggle to obtain a Gig from AT&T. They were initially promised one within six weeks, but it took almost 10 months — even though they were prepared to pay whatever the cost. The manager had trouble explaining this delay to his French headquarters, where they easily accessed Gigabit service. The only other place his company could not get a Gig was in a rural village in Mexico.
The RFQ should be available here once it's finished.
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YukonHawk
join:2001-01-07
Patterson, NY

YukonHawk

Member

This to me...

is time well spent. I think more communities should take this aggressive approach for better broadband. Hopefully it all works out.
AmericanMan
Premium Member
join:2013-12-28
united state

AmericanMan

Premium Member

Re: This to me...

Agreed. It's always nice when the elected officials are doing things for their constituents. Thumbs up!

Our community has an Internet meeting every month from what I hear, after spending more time on this site and reading stories like this, I'm thinking about attending one of the upcoming meetings to offer my input. The franchise cable company has failed our county horribly and flat out refuses to serve massive swaths of it, I figure it's time to give somebody else a chance.

YukonHawk
join:2001-01-07
Patterson, NY

YukonHawk

Member

Re: This to me...

Good on ya! This is how small movements become massive ones. Good luck to you.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski to YukonHawk

Premium Member

to YukonHawk
Here is the key though.
"The collective group has issued an RFQ to promote the deployment of gigabit broadband networks and services in "targeted commercial corridors" and locations "with demonstrated demand."

That means SW CT where the money is. People who feel that this will cover other areas than that and possible Hartford, etc are sorely mistaken....

camper
just visiting this planet
Premium Member
join:2010-03-21
Bethel, CT

camper

Premium Member

From the linked article...

"... One person spoke of 'negotiating down' the price for a Gig from Comcast --- to $3,000 per month! ..."
Bob61571
join:2008-08-08
Washington, IL

1 edit

Bob61571

Member

This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

"Another spoke of his international company's struggle to obtain a Gig from AT&T. They were initially promised one within six weeks, but it took almost 10 months — even though they were prepared to pay whatever the cost. The manager had trouble explaining this delay to his French headquarters, where they easily accessed Gigabit service. The only other place his company could not get a Gig was in a rural village in Mexico. "

If I were Randall Stephenson, I would be kicking some tail and taking names on this one.

Why would AT&T drag their feet(and break a promise) with a customer WILLING TO PAY WHATEVER IT COST TO GET a GIG !!!!! This is a failure in AT&T's process in serving its customers!! And, if AT&T could not keep the 6 week promise, they should have been talking to the customer, with a detailed explanation, and a timetable for expected completion. If I were the customer, I would have been working hard to find vendors, other than AT&T.I can't believe that they were the only choice available.

From a Midwest perspective, it's hard to believe that a densely populated state like Connecticut(so close to NYC and in the Boston/NYC corridor) should have so much time delay obtaining Gig broadband from ANY VENDOR, let alone AT&T. Has AT&T downsized or had too many retirements in its business services department in the Northeast? How about some input from some AT&T folks on this?
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

jorcmg

Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

Could have easily been the government delaying construction waiting for permits/settling easements.

firephoto
Truth and reality matters
Premium Member
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA

3 recommendations

firephoto

Premium Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

said by jorcmg:

Could have easily been the government delaying construction waiting for permits/settling easements.

A local telco with cable hanging on the poles and running under ground doesn't need more permits for cables to hang off a pole and to run under ground.

But yes, lets blame the government for getting in the way of these poor struggling businesses that have a standing offer to buy their entire network in some states.

bluefox8
join:2014-08-20

bluefox8

Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

said by firephoto:

A local telco with cable hanging on the poles and running under ground doesn't need more permits for cables to hang off a pole and to run under ground.

But yes, lets blame the government for getting in the way of these poor struggling businesses that have a standing offer to buy their entire network in some states.

+1

"Could have" been is a useless argument that doesn't add anything useful to the discussion.

"Could have" even been an ET sending radio waves into people's skulls. Anything "could have" been.
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

jorcmg

Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

I'll change it for you then to "most likely was".

bluefox8
join:2014-08-20

1 recommendation

bluefox8

Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

Lol. Don't change it for me. Read the article. No mention of government delays that you speak of. Maybe drink a little less kool-aid?

ieolus
Support The Clecs
join:2001-06-19
Danbury, CT

ieolus to jorcmg

Member

to jorcmg
Some times I wish we had a down vote option...

fiosultimate
join:2014-06-09
San Antonio, TX

1 recommendation

fiosultimate to firephoto

Member

to firephoto
I blame Obama too and also I blame him for dead puppies kicked by little kids
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

jorcmg to firephoto

Member

to firephoto
If you think ATT has fiber hanging off every pole then I dont know what else to say to you...

camper
just visiting this planet
Premium Member
join:2010-03-21
Bethel, CT

camper

Premium Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

 
AT&T should have known whether or not they had fiber in place before AT&T promised the six-week deadline.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: This Connecticut example REALLY reflects badly on AT&T!!

I think this is honestly a more important factor in that case. They should have known if they had the goods before promise of an order.

On a side note even if CT built a large ftth network you can net that the Danbury area would fall to the bottom of the list. My experience from 27 years I lived in ct is that Hartford barely knew the Danbury area existed.

alchav
join:2002-05-17
Saint George, UT

alchav to camper

Member

to camper
said by camper:

 
AT&T should have known whether or not they had fiber in place before AT&T promised the six-week deadline.

No Company just throws around Fiber, and then hopes someone will buy it so they can connect them. The Old Days of competition when a Company came in and offered their Service at the lowest price, are gone. With GigaBit Fiber there has to be a plan for deployment, and everyone has to be on-board. That's why even Google has a $300 Installation Fee, and it use to be around $2500 with other Providers. So you guys have to face the fact if you want Fiber in your Community or City, everyone has to pay and want it too.
Kommie2 (banned)
join:2003-05-13
united state

Kommie2 (banned) to jorcmg

Member

to jorcmg
They do in CT. 25% of the State has had HFC deployed at one point by SNET till SBC killed it.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA to Bob61571

Premium Member

to Bob61571
That's not surprising. If they have to run fiber...

mackey
Premium Member
join:2007-08-20

mackey to Bob61571

Premium Member

to Bob61571
said by Bob61571:

Why would AT&T drag their feet

They're THE phone company. They'll take however long they feel like.

/M

alchav
join:2002-05-17
Saint George, UT

alchav to Bob61571

Member

to Bob61571
This doesn't reflect bad on anyone, if Connecticut does it right AT&T can come in and present their options. To do it right Connecticut forms a group and comes up with parameters and specifics for their Broadband Network. Then they could invite all the Providers including AT&T and Google to present their options and cost. Connecticut then picks the Provider of their choice.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72 to Bob61571

Member

to Bob61571
Outside 3 maybe 4 areas, Conn is quite suburban/rural and has a midevil infrastructure. Fairfield/Orange, Hartford, Danbury, YNH. That is about it. It takes forever to get connectivity there. The problem is that it was SNET and when SBC/ATT took them over they made relatively minor investment. And I jest you not last year T lines still go for four figures.

So now you have the go getter Frontier, and bet that they are going to use that copper until it corrodes or have the trucks hauling it for scrap. They are the anti-investment company. To Frontier fiber is something you eat for roughage.

Conn is a poster child for ctrl-alt-delete their infrastructure.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

Neat I guess

It sounds neat, but will they target residential users? What will the TV side look like? CT already has 100% cable coverage, most with 100mbps or more, and just about every town has U-Verse in some parts (plus FIOS in part of Greenwich). Maybe they will light a fire under Frontier's ass to build some more GPON FTTH. Probably not.

mackey
Premium Member
join:2007-08-20

mackey

Premium Member

Re: Neat I guess

You can't go by "Uverse" availability, a very large chunk of Uverse is ADSL2+ with a max speed of 18/1.

/M

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: Neat I guess

Exactly. When I put in my address the most I can get is up to 18/1.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA to mackey

Premium Member

to mackey
I'm talking about VDSL, which is in almost (literally) every town. It's available to around half of the state by households. However, it's not evenly distributed. AT&T saw that MetroCrap is weak in New London and Waterford, and they put a crapload of VRADs in, while they saw that Thames Valley, while a weak cable provider, has sucked up all of the customers who want something that is "not Comcast", so they have put fewer VRADs in throughout Groton and Stonington. They put in a lot of crossboxes with no VRADs in other areas, like in Madison, where Comcast rebuilt their system, and thus is a pretty strong competitor.

Yucca Servic
join:2012-11-27
Rio Rancho, NM

Yucca Servic

Member

Politics

Business as usual. Let a Wireless ISP come in and bet the Internet will be a better world. It will cost far less to build than fiber.

Mr_Anon_Name
@70.188.97.x

Mr_Anon_Name

Anon

Re: Politics

No, it won't. Those Wireless ISPs still have to run fiber to have enough bandwidth to carry users on its wireless network. Muni fiber projects will do just fine as long as its managed properly.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

1 recommendation

Kearnstd to Yucca Servic

Premium Member

to Yucca Servic
WISP would be a nightmare in CT, It is very hilly where by you could not even serve some smaller neighborhoods without multiple towers. And then there is the trees, Most people in CT and most of New England honestly have lots of trees around their homes which also limits LOS to a WISP tower.

WISPs work great in the midwest and Southwest because of large flat areas with minimal tall foliage.
Rekrul
join:2007-04-21
Milford, CT

Rekrul

Member

CT broadband

I live in Milford CT, which is served by Cablevision/Optimum Online. I have 100mbps service. I know it's only 1/10 of gigabit speed, but it's better than most have. My speed tests to a local node usually register about 120mbps. The normal price for this level of service is $115, but I'm paying $60 because I was grandfathered by previously having the (now eliminated) 30mbps plan.

It goes down for a couple hours every 2-3 months, but it's usually late at night, so they're probably doing maintenance.

cralt
join:2011-01-07
CT

cralt

Member

good luck

Unless you live in Cablevision's footprint you are screwed for 1gig.. Thats basically just lower Fairfield county. They will sell you a 10gig hookup no problem. They sell their Metro-E product hard even on TV.

Rest of the state?
Well SNET was ahead of the curve tech wise in 1996. Then SBC (now ATT) brought them and the network STAYED in 1996. Other then vdsl based UVERSE in bigger towns they have done nothing to upgrade.

The story mentions the nutmeg network but I don't see how that will help bring gig internet to businesses. Thats not what it was built for. Its a closed network for public safety, government and education use only. Thats all it was sized and designed for.

And then there is Comcast...Not much more needs to be said there.
codydog
join:2001-11-29
Newport, RI

codydog

Member

Banks and hedge funds??

What do the banks and hedge funds in Stamford use? Its hard to imagine they don't have fiber. Maybe CT finally woke up and realized the job losses are real and unless infrastructure improves, the job losses are permanent.

cralt
join:2011-01-07
CT

cralt

Member

Re: Banks and hedge funds??

said by codydog:

What do the banks and hedge funds in Stamford use?

Cablevision and fibertech are the 2 fiber options I know of down there. Im sure there are more. Greenwitch also has FiOS last I heard.
Kommie2 (banned)
join:2003-05-13
united state

Kommie2 (banned)

Member

Wallingford can start

Walingford, CT has its own Electric Company like Chattanooga, TN.
Kommie2

Kommie2 (banned)

Member

Footage

»www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· -5FExRXE