Thread: cable companies
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Old 03-18-2013, 09:22 PM
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Default South of 466A Comcast Brighthouse or Centurylink

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack184 View Post
I've mentioned this before in a couple of other threads but a cable company is looked at the same way as a public utility. It requires a municipal franchise and can only operate within the single area of that franchise. Comcast is a true cable company. Brighthouse is a true cable company. Century Link is the telephone company, and like a cable company they too operate as a single area utility, however their area is almost always MUCH larger because phone companies tend to service multiple cities and states. Also up until only a few years ago telephone companies were NOT allowed to provide TV services as Century Link now does with Prism. Satellite companies are direct broadcasters and are not under the restrictions that cable companies & phone companies operate under. That is why in some areas you can get ComCast but not in others, the same for Brighthouse.

You have to find out which cable company serves your area. (There's only one per area) If for example your area is served by ComCast, you won't be able to get service from Brighthouse. Your choice would be ComCast, Century Link or one of the Sat-Casters such as Direct-TV or DishNet. If your area is served by Brighthouse you won't be able to get service from ComCast.
Sorry but this is not quite correct. I live south of 466A and I have Centurylink but Brighthouse and Comcast are also both available. Comcast has a fiber drop already placed to each new home as does Centurylink but in most cases Brighthouse has to bury a drop to the homes. Centurylink terminals are the taller light green closures, Comcast are shorter and also light green, and Brighthouse terminals are the smallest terminals and are a darker green color. Centurylink is still a regulated company and the others are not. Centurylink bought out Embark which was a smaller company that used to serve this area. Centurylink Prism uses the same bonded pair technology as ATT Uverse and the equipment is almost identical. If the copper facilities are in good condition it will work fine over copper in areas north of 466A. New companies are reluctant to go into older areas already established due to the right of way problems and additional expenses of building a network where the streets, yards, etc. are already established. Then getting enough customers to switch to their service to make it profitable is also a problem and they come out losing money. Directional boring has helped a lot when facilities have to be placed or repaired since you can go under yards, roads, etc. without disturbing them.