Posted on 03/26/2015 11:45:10 AM PDT by Timber Rattler
Only months after moving into his new home in Washington state, Consumerist reader Seth is already looking to sell his house. He didn’t lose his job or discover that the property is haunted. No, Seth can’t stay much longer because no one can provide broadband service to his address; even though Comcast and CenturyLink both misled him into thinking he’d be connected to their networks and in spite of the fact that his county runs a high-speed fiberoptic network that goes very near to his property.
Like an increasing number of Americans, Seth works from home, meaning that it’s vital that he have a reliable high-speed Internet connection at all times. That’s why before he even put an offer on the house in Kitsap County, WA, he contacted Comcast to confirm that he could get service to his potential new address.
According to Seth, who has kept a detailed timeline of events, one Comcast sales rep even said that a previous resident at this address had been a Comcast customer. Seth says he tried to get it in writing that the house was serviceable, but Comcast said they simply do not do that.
Then, on Jan. 31, a Comcast tech came out to perform what should have been a quick installation, only to find that there was no cable infrastructure leading to Seth’s property. Thus began a months-long saga of pointless appointments before Seth ultimately hit a dead end last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at consumerist.com ...
he never heard of satellite internet?
In the article, it says that the available satellite service there is too weak for his work needs and is exorbitantly expensive.
No argument here. Comcast is THE WORST!
That being said, the article seems like just more propaganda pushing government intervention and a “right” to universal broadband.
Verizon Wireless must be good competition for that title though
Does he have a working smart phone?
Should have required the seller to guarantee it’s availability.
No, it actually talks about government regulations being part of the problem, and stifling competition, leaving Comcast and Centurylink with insufferable monopolies.
Is it possible to license a point to point microwave link? Maybe a high gain millimeter wave link. If he close enough to high speed internet somebody could rig up something for him.
What an expensive mistake, on both sides. It’s easy for me to armchair quarterback now, after the fact, but he should have paid $100. and had the Comcast man come out first, before the home sale was completed. To be fair, Wifi and other communication systems are still relatively new to us, meaning they have been in heavy public use for less than 25 years. There are going to be lessons yet to be learned.
Not even a good employee can keep up with all technologic changes. Maybe they really thought he could be connected.
Poor Seth.
When I move next I'll put a broadband requirement in the contract along with a test for it as part of the inspection requirements right after the termite inspection.
I sympathize... Believe me I too know the heartache of Broadband infrastructure dysfunction. I use DSL I am at the far end of the distribution circle for the nearest “active” box.
However just 3/10ths of a mile from me is a BRAND NEW high speed internet connection box. Alas... It’s just there hooked up to the electric meter. It does nothing else. Why you might ask? Well according to my provider they received a grant from the government to install these new boxes every where so as to bring the joy of High Speed Broadband service to the rural country side. Yea them!
Unfortunately they didn’t get a grant to actually connect them with Fiber Optic cable. At least as far as my particular ‘box’ is concerned. And because there won’t be as much revenue from my rural area to pay for adding the infrastructure backbone as it costs them to install it... we won’t be seeing the new box start working to provide us with high speed internet service.
Caveat Emptor.
So, Seth is one of those guys who writes bad things about right wing terrorists on the internet? The article doesn’t say what his business but couldn’t rent an office in a town nearby to do his business till he can get it at home? I really can’t think of a profession that can ONLY be done from home.
Verizon Wireless is worse on data caps than Comcast. Yes, he could get a signal, but forget flat rate (or reasonably priced) data.
Try Hughes Net
And since we almost never use data outside the hoyse, on our wifi, we might as well save a bucket of cash by signing up with a discount phone company like metro PCs, boost Mobil, cricket or net10.
I have had Verizon Fios in Arnold, Maryland and Comcast in Florida....I would take Comcast any day of the week over Verizon Fios. Comcast is one of the best cable companies out there. And they are conservative too.....not to shabby a company at all.
Just about any member or retired member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, including me, would be happy to set up a long range wireless connection or link, and handle the business end, installation, and even any necessary contracts for a reasonable fee. Alas, these days most people want it all, and they’re unwilling to pay for it. The few that want truly bulletproof custom solutions and expect enormous challenges to be met and exceeded - and who are willing to pay a little for it - are the reason I eat thick steaks!
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