Comments on: 100 Mbps Broadband Reaches Rural America

By: Bennie

Bennie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:05:22 +0000

Just as an exta note… the above article does not explain that Smithville Telephone is replacing 100% of their copper telephone phone system with the new fiber optic system. The penetration rate for this system will be 100% as the old copper system will be abandoned.

By: Bennie

Bennie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:00:10 +0000

I am a Smithville Telephone customer. Here is a quote from an email I received from them regarding pricing for the 100 MBPS tier.

“For residential services, the Internet (100/25) + voice package is 323.60 a month plus taxes. This includes local telephone service, 100/25 broadband and 100 minutes of free long distance each month.”

Smithville Telephone sells a Hi-Speed ANYDistance bundle on their current copper telephone system. It includes an “up to” 3.0Mbps internet connection, phone service with unlimited long distance, call waiting and caller id with name. This package sells for $76.95 per month. I am told that this same package will be sold on the fiber system, at the same price, with a 20 Mbps downstream and a 4 Mbps upstream internet connection. I am truly a rural customer. There are only 4 other houses within a half of a mile of mine. I know I won’t be in the first 50% to be connected but $76.95 per month for what they will be offering is a pretty sweet deal.

By: 100 Mbps Broadband Reaches Rural America « KGP Broadband Stimulus Blog

100 Mbps Broadband Reaches Rural America « KGP Broadband Stimulus Blog — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:02:55 +0000

[...] To read comments posted to the Telecompetitor article go to: http://www.telecompetitor.com/100-mbps-broadband-reaches-rural-america/ [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:15:30 +0000

Just to build off the other subject lines in this comment section, 100 Mbps to where? At work we have access to a much larger pipe, but rarely see an extended download over 20 or 30 Mbps. I bet a 50 or 100 Mbps home user would not be able to perceive a difference between the two, not to speak about the TCP/IP stack & latency => performance conundrum.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:13:17 +0000

100 mbps to where? True rural companies have too many hops to the world. To provide a guaranteed level of service, for a viable business model, the transport costs for most truly rural telcos would be prohibitive. I am sure, with its proximity to Bloomington, that Smithville is in the enviable position of not having to deal with these costs. Plus there is probably a significant number of “early adopters” in this market to buy their service. 100mbps is still a long way out for true rural markets with their aging farmers and shrinking populations.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:01:52 +0000

Per this particular post, Smithville has not revealed pricing. I've seen retail pricing of 100 Mbps range from $170/month to as low as $99/month - these are just monthly recurring charges. There are other fees - for example Cablevision is reportedly going to charge a $300 activation fee for their 101 Mbps service. Managing Editor, Telecompetitor

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:49:51 +0000

What is cost of 100mbps retail to Customer?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:51:09 +0000

Awesome! Bring it on…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:51:09 +0000

Say what you want, but this is the future. It may be getting here sooner than everyone thought …

By: Jim Rollins

Jim Rollins — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:47:04 +0000

These 100 Mbps claims make for great headlines, but they need to be put in perspective. I’d like to see what the Internet backhaul links are for these carriers who are now offering 100 Mbps. If you only have a DS3 to the Internet, are you truly offering 100 Mbps to customers.