Last year, I blogged about the possibility of Google installing super-fast broadband internet to my city Anaheim. A year has passed and Google has just decided to give it to Kansas City, Kansas. Lucky them! Hundreds, if not thousands of people, are getting 1000 Mbps broadband connections. It’s a step towards the future for everyone in Kansas.
For me, I’ve since upgraded to 6 Mbps AT&T, but only lasted for a few months. Now, I’ve dropped their DSL in favor of Time Warner Cable’s Roadrunner broadband for three reasons:
- Cost. Roadrunner is running a promotional $30/month.
- Speed. The standard one has bandwidth upto 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload1.
- True Unlimited. AT&T will start to cap and charge additional fees for over-the-limit use (aka overage). Cable modem does not have overages2.
The biggest reason is obviously these stupid overages. They are a step backwards for internet commerce and productivity. Bandwidth caps will stifle innovation. I don’t understand why AT&T has to do this since 98% of their customers are not bandwidth hogs. Maybe they got the numbers wrong. I don’t use that much bandwidth, and certainly don’t want to start thinking about my bandwidth use.
Anyway, I’m still hopeful to see the ultra high-speed broadband in my neck of the woods. Cheap, or even free, bandwidth will be the dream. I sure hope Google can set the standard and lead it all the way.
Building IT
Jot It Down
hi Rudy,
I have cable broadband, and I think I have the “mid range” plan, which seems fine. Are you on DSL? Do you have the option of cable? And what do you need the high bandwidth for?
I certainly wouldn’t mind if broadband access was free, or even less expensive (it is a significant cost for a typical household budget I think), but I also can’t imagine life without it :), and think it is well worth it, even if it is expensive.
Steve
Hey Steve,
I ditched DSL. I’ll be getting rid of the AT&T landline soon, too. I don’t need cable TV because I use Hulu and Netflix for my TV watching.
Household broadband internet is actually cheap/free in advanced countries like Hong Kong, Sweden, etc. The US can have the same competitive prices, but they just choose to be greedy.
I agree with you 100% I hate having the issues I have with my current company and there just doesn’t seem to bee a good enough way to make things better without getting something outrageous that I don’t need.