I live in the triangle area. My broadband options are limited. An excerpt I wrote nominating my municipality for Google Fiber for Communities:
Though there are many technology workers here, the area has limited Internet access providers, primarily BellSouth DSL and Time Warner cable, both of which have higher prices, yet offer less bandwidth compated to providers in other regions.
For example, Comcast advertises (in Santa Clara, CA) 15 Mbps down, 3 Mbps up (w/PowerBoost) for $42.95 per month, after a six-month intro of $19.99.
By comparison, Time Warner Cable offers only 10 Mbps down, 512 Kbps up for $64.90 per month, after a six-month intro of $39.90/month. Two-thirds the bandwidth for 1.5x the cost, nevermind that I can't even get higher speed if I wanted to.
DSL is even worse. I can't get BellSouth's website to tell me what DSL options are available at my address, but att.com advertises 6 Mbps DSL for $42.95 per month after a 12-month intro of $24.95. AT&T U-verse is not yet available to me either.
Now look what Wilson, NC, 60 miles to the east, offers to its residents:
Though there are many technology workers here, the area has limited Internet access providers, primarily BellSouth DSL and Time Warner cable, both of which have higher prices, yet offer less bandwidth compated to providers in other regions.
For example, Comcast advertises (in Santa Clara, CA) 15 Mbps down, 3 Mbps up (w/PowerBoost) for $42.95 per month, after a six-month intro of $19.99.
By comparison, Time Warner Cable offers only 10 Mbps down, 512 Kbps up for $64.90 per month, after a six-month intro of $39.90/month. Two-thirds the bandwidth for 1.5x the cost, nevermind that I can't even get higher speed if I wanted to.
DSL is even worse. I can't get BellSouth's website to tell me what DSL options are available at my address, but att.com advertises 6 Mbps DSL for $42.95 per month after a 12-month intro of $24.95. AT&T U-verse is not yet available to me either.
Now look what Wilson, NC, 60 miles to the east, offers to its residents:
http://www.greenlightnc.com/about/internet/
10 Mbps symmetric service for $35/month up to 100 Mbps symmetric for $150/month.
More about what's going on at http://savencbb.wordpress.com/