4 ms·

I'd bet that at least part of that is in response to competition on the ground. Monkeybrains and Sonic (disclosure: long time sonic customer) both are bringing

by pfooti 9y ago

I'd bet that at least part of that is in response to competition on the ground. Monkeybrains and Sonic (disclosure: long time sonic customer) both are bringing high-speed broadband to SF. In particular, I have symmetric gigabit for like $50 a month.

chrischen 9y ago
I have 15 down 0.5 mbps up sonic for $70...
- quadyeast 9y ago
  I have 3 mb/s down sonic for $68. It comes bundled with a phone line that I do not need. They charge me $10 extra because they are trying to improve the network elsewhere.
  - smsm42 9y ago
    I've used Sonic. They advertised $40/m (still do) but it turned out that plus additional $10 just because, plus hw rental fees, plus taxes on the phone service I don't need and can't get rid of. All summarily $65. Plus they use AT&T infrastructure, which also conveniently makes it impossible to switch from them to regular AT&T without cancelling the service completely (thus cutting off internet) and ordering a brand new install, since AT&T software can't handle it otherwise (they don't have option to move same service to different billing engine). Plus they told me I have to cancel a month in advance (and pay for the extra month even if I already have another service). So, I'm no longer using Sonic.
  - rosser 9y ago
    I'm paying Sonic ~$100 for 12 down/2 up bonded DSL, and two phone lines I think I've used one of, about twice. I'd still rather give them that money than Comcast any.
- harikb 9y ago
  There are areas where Sonic is dependent on ATT for service. Sure, it is not a great solution, but they (sonic) at least answer calls, have a decent portal, and not trying to upsell you anything or steal your dns queries.
  - chrischen 9y ago
    I agree that their service is much more reliable and definitely much better than Comcast, but at some point the main offering differences are going to come into play. On a no-contract comcast plan I'm paying the same price for 250 MBPS down now. It's good they finally got fiber, because there is no way their DSL offering would be considered competitive, or a viable alternative to comcast (the only other provider I have). I'm not even in some random part of SF. I'm on Valencia, in the Mission, 3 blocks from BART, which is pretty central. The fact that I have only 2 internet service providers in such a dense part of town and one that doesn't really have a competitive offering is sad, and also why "net neutrality" is necessary until real competition exists.
- smsm42 9y ago
  I've got 55/5 from Comcast for half the price. Promotional, of course, but once promotion ends I'll find some other promotion, likely. Not SF though, a bit south from it.

by pfooti 9y ago

chrischen 9y ago

I have 15 down 0.5 mbps up sonic for $70...

quadyeast 9y ago
I have 3 mb/s down sonic for $68. It comes bundled with a phone line that I do not need. They charge me $10 extra because they are trying to improve the network elsewhere.
- smsm42 9y ago
  I've used Sonic. They advertised $40/m (still do) but it turned out that plus additional $10 just because, plus hw rental fees, plus taxes on the phone service I don't need and can't get rid of. All summarily $65. Plus they use AT&T infrastructure, which also conveniently makes it impossible to switch from them to regular AT&T without cancelling the service completely (thus cutting off internet) and ordering a brand new install, since AT&T software can't handle it otherwise (they don't have option to move same service to different billing engine). Plus they told me I have to cancel a month in advance (and pay for the extra month even if I already have another service). So, I'm no longer using Sonic.
- rosser 9y ago
  I'm paying Sonic ~$100 for 12 down/2 up bonded DSL, and two phone lines I think I've used one of, about twice. I'd still rather give them that money than Comcast any.
harikb 9y ago
There are areas where Sonic is dependent on ATT for service. Sure, it is not a great solution, but they (sonic) at least answer calls, have a decent portal, and not trying to upsell you anything or steal your dns queries.
- chrischen 9y ago
  I agree that their service is much more reliable and definitely much better than Comcast, but at some point the main offering differences are going to come into play. On a no-contract comcast plan I'm paying the same price for 250 MBPS down now. It's good they finally got fiber, because there is no way their DSL offering would be considered competitive, or a viable alternative to comcast (the only other provider I have). I'm not even in some random part of SF. I'm on Valencia, in the Mission, 3 blocks from BART, which is pretty central. The fact that I have only 2 internet service providers in such a dense part of town and one that doesn't really have a competitive offering is sad, and also why "net neutrality" is necessary until real competition exists.
smsm42 9y ago
I've got 55/5 from Comcast for half the price. Promotional, of course, but once promotion ends I'll find some other promotion, likely. Not SF though, a bit south from it.