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In NYC, I have exactly one broadband provider. Spectrum (formerly Time Warner). Their highest end package is 500 down / 20 up. I can't get FiOS because, even th

In NYC, I have exactly one broadband provider. Spectrum (formerly Time Warner). Their highest end package is 500 down / 20 up. I can't get FiOS because, even though Verizon contractually agreed to wire all of NYC up for fiber, they lied and didn't. So, my only other option is Verizon DSL with offers 'up to 7Mbps' down. T-Mobile is rolling out their home 5g internet now. It doesn't support streaming yet, but it hits around 200+ down and 25 up on my phone, so it may get there.

ep103 6y ago
nyc has sued verizon multiple (?) times for failing to roll out fiber into the city and just keeping the money. Each time verizon does some update, or rolls out a little bit more, and the story repeats. Telecom is a utility, end of story.
- toss1 6y ago
  NYC needs to get serious Tell Verizon and the others that if they fail to fulfill their contract, the will get their license pulled, or, at the very least, they will operate their own local municipal broadband. Of course the incentives are probably for each individual politician such that with enough graft, campaign donations, etc., that they just stick with the status quo, but I'm not familiar with the local situation. [edit: typo "fulled" => "pulled"]
  - thomastjeffery 6y ago
    It sounds like that is what they have been doing. What they need to do now is tell Verizon that they failed to fulfill their contract, pull their license, and operate their own municipal broadband.
    - lotsofpulp 6y ago
      New York City government has been all talk and no walk because they also do not want to pony up the sufficient funds to make it happen.
    - toss1 6y ago
      Yup. Although, while I'm no longer familiar with the local situation, it seems that the action has more been to sue Verizon and pocket the proceeds from the lawsuits into the general fund, while keeping their actual regulatory big gun in the holster. Managing lawsuits and paying fines is apparently still cheaper for Verizon than actually installing the fiber. What I want to know is WHY no regulator or judge has seen fit to actually enforce the requirement sufficiently to change Verizon's behavior. (Or why they just don't use your suggestion, say they failed, repeatedly, pull the plug, and make their own system. They could pay for a LOT with the profits, even providing better and cheaper service)
310260 6y ago
Spectrum (TWC) also likes to get exclusive rights to certain buildings too. Making the problem worse. On the topic of T-Mobile home internet, it does support streaming. Availability is determined by the network in your local area though.
- JohnTHaller 6y ago
  I misread the announcement. They don't support a couple specific services (Hulu Live TV) but everything else streams just great from reviews I've read (Netflix, YouTube, regular Hulu, etc).
sinak 6y ago
If anyone is considering T-Mobile Home 5G Internet, you can dramatically improve your connection speeds by getting the devices to connect on the 5G n41 band, where T-Mobile has much more spectrum. Unfortunately n41 is 2500 MHz, which means it's readily absorbed by building materials. Hooking up external antennas to the hotspot requires a bit of playing with the device [1], but can be a big help. https://www.waveform.com/a/b/guides/hotspots/t-mobile-5g-gateway https://www.waveform.com/a/b/guides/hotspots/t-mobile-5g-gat...
meragrin_ 6y ago
> It doesn't support streaming yet, but it hits around 200+ down and 25 up on my phone, so it may get there. Does that mean the 5g internet is really slow(DSL speed?) or do they actively block streaming? Is there another reason streaming wouldn't be supported even at a decent speed?
- JohnTHaller 6y ago
  I misread the announcement. They don't support a couple specific services (Hulu Live TV) but everything else streams just great from reviews I've read (Netflix, YouTube, regular Hulu, etc).
JonLim 6y ago
Depending on where you live, check and see if you have Natural Wireless[0] available in your building/residence. Recently moved into an apartment that is lucky enough to get their service, and we get gigabit for ~$70 a month. Have had almost zero issues, and their support has been tremendous. [0]: https://naturalwireless.com/ https://naturalwireless.com/
kortex 6y ago
I'm in upstate NY. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard folks complain that there is Verizon fiber a few hundred feet away but when you inquire about getting it to your home, Verizon is just like, "mmm, nah." This is where municipal intervention is most necessary - last mile, nay, last quarter mile.

ep103 6y ago

nyc has sued verizon multiple (?) times for failing to roll out fiber into the city and just keeping the money. Each time verizon does some update, or rolls out a little bit more, and the story repeats. Telecom is a utility, end of story.

toss1 6y ago
NYC needs to get serious Tell Verizon and the others that if they fail to fulfill their contract, the will get their license pulled, or, at the very least, they will operate their own local municipal broadband. Of course the incentives are probably for each individual politician such that with enough graft, campaign donations, etc., that they just stick with the status quo, but I'm not familiar with the local situation. [edit: typo "fulled" => "pulled"]
- thomastjeffery 6y ago
  It sounds like that is what they have been doing. What they need to do now is tell Verizon that they failed to fulfill their contract, pull their license, and operate their own municipal broadband.
  - lotsofpulp 6y ago
    New York City government has been all talk and no walk because they also do not want to pony up the sufficient funds to make it happen.
  - toss1 6y ago
    Yup. Although, while I'm no longer familiar with the local situation, it seems that the action has more been to sue Verizon and pocket the proceeds from the lawsuits into the general fund, while keeping their actual regulatory big gun in the holster. Managing lawsuits and paying fines is apparently still cheaper for Verizon than actually installing the fiber. What I want to know is WHY no regulator or judge has seen fit to actually enforce the requirement sufficiently to change Verizon's behavior. (Or why they just don't use your suggestion, say they failed, repeatedly, pull the plug, and make their own system. They could pay for a LOT with the profits, even providing better and cheaper service)

310260 6y ago

Spectrum (TWC) also likes to get exclusive rights to certain buildings too. Making the problem worse. On the topic of T-Mobile home internet, it does support streaming. Availability is determined by the network in your local area though.

JohnTHaller 6y ago
I misread the announcement. They don't support a couple specific services (Hulu Live TV) but everything else streams just great from reviews I've read (Netflix, YouTube, regular Hulu, etc).

sinak 6y ago

If anyone is considering T-Mobile Home 5G Internet, you can dramatically improve your connection speeds by getting the devices to connect on the 5G n41 band, where T-Mobile has much more spectrum. Unfortunately n41 is 2500 MHz, which means it's readily absorbed by building materials. Hooking up external antennas to the hotspot requires a bit of playing with the device [1], but can be a big help. https://www.waveform.com/a/b/guides/hotspots/t-mobile-5g-gateway https://www.waveform.com/a/b/guides/hotspots/t-mobile-5g-gat...

meragrin_ 6y ago

> It doesn't support streaming yet, but it hits around 200+ down and 25 up on my phone, so it may get there. Does that mean the 5g internet is really slow(DSL speed?) or do they actively block streaming? Is there another reason streaming wouldn't be supported even at a decent speed?

JohnTHaller 6y ago
I misread the announcement. They don't support a couple specific services (Hulu Live TV) but everything else streams just great from reviews I've read (Netflix, YouTube, regular Hulu, etc).

JonLim 6y ago

Depending on where you live, check and see if you have Natural Wireless[0] available in your building/residence. Recently moved into an apartment that is lucky enough to get their service, and we get gigabit for ~$70 a month. Have had almost zero issues, and their support has been tremendous. [0]: https://naturalwireless.com/ https://naturalwireless.com/

kortex 6y ago

I'm in upstate NY. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard folks complain that there is Verizon fiber a few hundred feet away but when you inquire about getting it to your home, Verizon is just like, "mmm, nah." This is where municipal intervention is most necessary - last mile, nay, last quarter mile.