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I've worked remotely for 20 years. Fortunately on DSL because I'm within 3 miles of my central office. Also a stockholder in the local phone company providing t

I've worked remotely for 20 years. Fortunately on DSL because I'm within 3 miles of my central office. Also a stockholder in the local phone company providing the service. Get 40MBit when I'm lucky; 1MBit when its busy. But they just buried a fibre optic cable down my gravel road ditch! Heading toward a small rural business that paid ~20K for the cable. And they offered to let me in on it! So fibre here I come. So far a rut next to my driveway and a coil of black plastic 'cable' hung next to my house's service box. But soon!

crazy1van 6y ago
Is there a way to search for fiber optic cables nearby? Calling the local telco has always been a dead-end -- I can't get beyond the sales-rep who's computer shows fiber service isn't available at my location.
- wmil 6y ago
  You'll get better results writing letters. As in actual formally written letters on paper sent in the mail. Written requests for information get handled better. Write to the telco, also write to your municipal and state government. Try to find the relevant office. Someone will get back to you with the info.
- opwieurposiu 6y ago
  Walk around and look for the junction boxes in alleys and on road easements. Often they will be labeled as to what they contain.
- dredmorbius 6y ago
  Local permitting / regulator's office should be a good place to start.
- JoeAltmaier 6y ago
  No idea about bigger cities. I'm in a rural community, with 300 subscribers to our local telephone office. We can get service just by calling the manager. My grandfather was an initial stockholder in the company when it was formed. See, back then you bought a share, you got a line run to your farm. He needed the line so when the federal liquor tax man came into town, his friend could call and let him know. He'd throw the still in the wagon and head for the woods until the coast was clear. When I was a kid, we still had a wooden box on the wall with a horn coming out the front (microphone) and a cloth-covered wire to an earpiece hanging on the switchhook out the side. You took the receiver off and rattled the switchhook to get the operator's attention - a little light would flash on her board. Told her who you wanted, she'd plug you to them and operate the ringer crank. It's all automated now, and most of their revenue is cable services and internet. Plus fees for all traffic crossing our territory, which is between several middle-sized communities so that's a big deal. Amounts to some millions a year revenue! But not enough to install fibre until now.
- notJim 6y ago
  My mom had a lot of trouble with this. The best route ended up being to stop and talk to the workers every time she saw a cable company truck. Eventually, she met the foreman for the team that wires up new housing developments. He was able to give her a number to call. Thousands of dollars, dozens of phone calls, and about two years later, she had cable at her house!

crazy1van 6y ago

Is there a way to search for fiber optic cables nearby? Calling the local telco has always been a dead-end -- I can't get beyond the sales-rep who's computer shows fiber service isn't available at my location.

wmil 6y ago
You'll get better results writing letters. As in actual formally written letters on paper sent in the mail. Written requests for information get handled better. Write to the telco, also write to your municipal and state government. Try to find the relevant office. Someone will get back to you with the info.
opwieurposiu 6y ago
Walk around and look for the junction boxes in alleys and on road easements. Often they will be labeled as to what they contain.
dredmorbius 6y ago
Local permitting / regulator's office should be a good place to start.
JoeAltmaier 6y ago
No idea about bigger cities. I'm in a rural community, with 300 subscribers to our local telephone office. We can get service just by calling the manager. My grandfather was an initial stockholder in the company when it was formed. See, back then you bought a share, you got a line run to your farm. He needed the line so when the federal liquor tax man came into town, his friend could call and let him know. He'd throw the still in the wagon and head for the woods until the coast was clear. When I was a kid, we still had a wooden box on the wall with a horn coming out the front (microphone) and a cloth-covered wire to an earpiece hanging on the switchhook out the side. You took the receiver off and rattled the switchhook to get the operator's attention - a little light would flash on her board. Told her who you wanted, she'd plug you to them and operate the ringer crank. It's all automated now, and most of their revenue is cable services and internet. Plus fees for all traffic crossing our territory, which is between several middle-sized communities so that's a big deal. Amounts to some millions a year revenue! But not enough to install fibre until now.
notJim 6y ago
My mom had a lot of trouble with this. The best route ended up being to stop and talk to the workers every time she saw a cable company truck. Eventually, she met the foreman for the team that wires up new housing developments. He was able to give her a number to call. Thousands of dollars, dozens of phone calls, and about two years later, she had cable at her house!