F...My Cable Company!

Joe -
You keep reiterating that Verizon is only building their FIOS network in affluant neighborhoods, but I have read where there is FIOS going into poorer neighborhoods as well. The tidewater area comes to mind.

Also, the new VA franchising law that was enacted a few months ago places strict and broad buildout requirements on telcos that use the law to get around current franchising red tape, wouldn't you agree?

In areas where FIOS has been released, cable prices have been slashed. This kind of makes me wonder how much the cable companies were making before if they could afford to cut their prices so dramatically.

Joe -
You keep reiterating that Verizon is only building their FIOS network in affluant neighborhoods, but I have read where there is FIOS going into poorer neighborhoods as well. The tidewater area comes to mind.

Also, the new VA franchising law that was enacted a few months ago places strict and broad buildout requirements on telcos that use the law to get around current franchising red tape, wouldn't you agree?

In areas where FIOS has been released, cable prices have been slashed. This kind of makes me wonder how much the cable companies were making before if they could afford to cut their prices so dramatically.

Is there any specific area of the tidewater region you're thinking of, cpayne5? I wasn't aware that they were building out there, but I'd be interested in any documentation you have.

In regards to the new VA franchising law, it's actually pretty Verizon-friendly, allowing them a very generous time-table to reach those supposedly "strict and broad buildout requirements". For instance, in the franchise agreement Verizon just signed with Henrico County, Virginia to begin offering its FiOS services, Verizon has three years to offer services to its initial target area (which Verizon is free to choose), eight years to reach 65% of Henrico, and a whopping 12 years to reach just 80% of Henrico's 112,000 residents. Henrico, mind you, is per capita one of Virginia's wealthiest counties, as are the other areas in which Verizon has chosen to offer its FiOs services: Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William counties; the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax; the towns of Herndon and Dumfries. You can't blame Verizon for cherry-picking, but you can certainly blame the legislators who have so generously accommodated their demands.

As far as "price-slashing", again, I'd like to see your documentation. In most cases, you're going to find that the competitors will offer very competitive rates to new customers, for a limited time-- usually the first six to twelve months of service. But after those first six to twelve months, prices go right back to the numbers folks are screaming about-- the numbers which also happen to be what the companies need to maintain and grow their expensive infrastructure. This will inevitably lead to consumer flip-flopping to avoid paying the standard rates with any of the companies, but does that really benefit anyone?

FiOS has been deployed throughout the Hampton Roads region. Specifically, Hampton and VA Beach. Also, FiOS was just turned on in Hempstead, NY (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6344295.html). Even near me they've started running the conduit for FiOS in Culpeper county (which isn't exactly on par with Fairfax in terms of affluance). The whole cherry picking notion has been blown way out of proportion by the cable companies.

The new VA law states that a new competitor can either try to negotiate a new contract with the locality, or they can obtain an automatic franchise authorization. By agreeing to the fast track agreement, they have to build out 100% of the initial service area within 3 years and 65% of their entire serviced area within 7 years.

Verizon offers two sets of prices. One for yearly contracts, and one for month-to-month, which is about $5 more expensive per month. In all of the places where FiOS has been deployed (Keller, Westchester, Long Island, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Maryland, NoVA, Hampton Roads, & Fort Wayne) not a single one has seen a price increase. The prices that Verizon has advertised have stayed the same for the 2+ years of FiOS's existance. For cases where cable prices have been cut, see Keller Texas and Long Island New York (Cablevision). For instances where the cable companies have increased the level of service without increasing prices, see just about every other locality where FiOS has been deployed. I'd definitely say that customer are benefiting from this.

FiOS has been deployed throughout the Hampton Roads region. Specifically, Hampton and VA Beach. Also, FiOS was just turned on in Hempstead, NY (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6344295.html). Even near me they've started running the conduit for FiOS in Culpeper county (which isn't exactly on par with Fairfax in terms of affluance). The whole cherry picking notion has been blown way out of proportion by the cable companies.

The new VA law states that a new competitor can either try to negotiate a new contract with the locality, or they can obtain an automatic franchise authorization. By agreeing to the fast track agreement, they have to build out 100% of the initial service area within 3 years and 65% of their entire serviced area within 7 years.

Verizon offers two sets of prices. One for yearly contracts, and one for month-to-month, which is about $5 more expensive per month. In all of the places where FiOS has been deployed (Keller, Westchester, Long Island, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Maryland, NoVA, Hampton Roads, & Fort Wayne) not a single one has seen a price increase. The prices that Verizon has advertised have stayed the same for the 2+ years of FiOS's existance. For cases where cable prices have been cut, see Keller Texas and Long Island New York (Cablevision). For instances where the cable companies have increased the level of service without increasing prices, see just about every other locality where FiOS has been deployed. I'd definitely say that customer are benefiting from this.

The Hempstead towns mentioned on Long Island (Baldwin, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Roosevelt, Seaford and Wantagh) are mostly middle to upper income areas. There are poorer sections of Hempstead that were not mentioned and Verizon only started offering the service there after a local news station here on Long Island exposed them over that issue.

The Hempstead towns mentioned on Long Island (Baldwin, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Roosevelt, Seaford and Wantagh) are mostly middle to upper income areas. There are poorer sections of Hempstead that were not mentioned and Verizon only started offering the service there after a local news station here on Long Island exposed them over that issue.
Good info. Thanks.

I called my cable company and told them that I was switching to dish and they reviewed my account and dropped my bill by 20 bucks a month. I should of told them that I was thinking about switching internet services also but I did not think about it. Anyway my rate is good for a year. Cable companies dont like to hear the D word!!

My cable company tried to bargain with me too. I said unless you suddenly carry the NFL there's no way that I'm not switching. They didn't have much to say after that.

I'm local so I get all of the skins game so that helped with my decision. We have direct at about 48 per month with their one step above the basic package. We have no movie channels (if I want to see it I'll rent or pay per view) but we do have the NFL network and all the info mercials that one man could ask for. After 3 am I can watch girls gone wild info's on two different channels. I only have trouble with weather a couple of times a year so its realy no big deal. If you have direct and loose conection in light rains call them to come out and re ajust the dish.

Direct TV is the best possible investment for an NFL fan. Seriously, the next time you get pissed off with your cable company, make the switch over. Subscribe to Sunday Ticket while you're at it. Even if you get Skins games locally, it does wonders to eliminate commercial breaks.

-EDIT- I dont work for direct TV