Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Trying to get Cable to my house. Need tips & advice.

Apr 7, 2013 3:39AM PDT

Hi all, I am a new member to Cnet but been on the site many of times. I've just recently sent a email to the only Cable internet service campany near me. For like 10 years or more they have stopped 2/10 of a mile up the road from my house. Every time we request service from them they give us a story on how many thousands it will cost my family and I to get service to our house, the latest was est. $6,500 (not even counting the cost of the service itself).They also tell us the story of how state law says there must be 35 houses within a mile to get service (up from years past of 20 houses). Yes, I live in a rural area. Yet they still won't budge a few hundred feet to bring us service.

Surprisingly a company rep read my email and called me practically hours later but I missed the call as I was out of the house. So by tomorrow I will either call them again or they will. Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to convince/pressure them to bring us service? I am willing to contact state officals, BBB, FCC and many others tirelessly, of which I stated in the email. We are even willing to settle with a contract for years of service to knock down the price significantly.
Anyways, thanks reading guys and would really appreciate any useful advice.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Have you considered DSL or satellite?
Apr 7, 2013 3:46AM PDT

Trying to convince your cable company to do something they don't want to do sounds like an uphill climb, but there're other broadband options. You could with your phone service for DSL or your cell phone service for 3G or 4G and you could always get satellite service too. I understand a lot of rural people use satellite. Granted cable is probably the fastest, but anything is better than dialup by a long long stretch.

Good luck.

- Collapse -
Thanks, but
Apr 7, 2013 5:18AM PDT

Satellite internet is woefully expensive and we don't get 4G where we are. People we know around my area have used satellite services before and had basically 56k dial-up speed. Needless to say they hated it. We have a wireless connection, the only one that has decent signal is from Verison. 5GB monthly limit (gag) for $50 a month. Plus additional $10 for each GB over we use. It is horribly expensive and limiting. We can only do basic internet stuff, websites is pretty much it and we have to avoid any and all videos possible to stay under 5GB/month. Most of the time we are carefull, but they charge us $20-30 more and we can only take their word vs ours.

Thanks for the reply, but we are NOT looking for another limiting and expensive service. Satellite and wireless services are out of the question.

- Collapse -
No DSL either
Apr 7, 2013 5:19AM PDT

Oh, and DSL isn't available.

- Collapse -
There're a number of satellite companies
Apr 7, 2013 6:26AM PDT

I've known folks who had satellite service and were happy with it, but I don't remember which satellite company they were using or whether there's more than one available in your area. One possibility might be to get a laptop or tablet and use WiFi if there're places offering that where you are. Most hotels, motels, and fast food places in my area have that. Of course you could always move .2 mile to where you could get cable. Mischief Just kidding; that would likely be both expensive and inconvenient.<div>
I like the suburban area where I live, but I do have to avoid the awful rush hour traffic around here that you probably don't have to worry about. Fortunately I'm retired so I can shop when most folks are at work or school.
</div>
Good luck.

- Collapse -
call
Apr 8, 2013 2:16AM PDT

Not more than 20 minutes ago I called the cable company. He said he will send someone out to check the distance to my house...again. This I don't care for, since as far as I can tell the law of physics still exist.

- Collapse -
Answer
same thing
Apr 10, 2014 9:25AM PDT

They 'red lined' us years ago despite promises that tour entire town would have internet access. Needless to say, the town has done nothing for us. I have promises today from Comcast that they will give me a quote...at least you have that! We have never gotten a quote from them. Are there any private installers that will in stall the necessary cable to hook us up??

- Collapse -
Answer
In the sticks Enjoying the lower COLA but must have BB
Aug 2, 2014 5:22AM PDT

Better get a Mobile Broadband connection.. I got one 8 years ago when sprint offered 59.00 for UNLIMITED 3G BB. Still have it. too. Cant do no gaming on it.. Prior to this had both Direcway & Wildblue. Mobile BB is faster then 'country DSL' or Satellite especially from 12 AM- 8AM. After that you have 'interference' from phone calls.

Have neighbor who is computer Network Analyst and services 30 websites from his garage. He had T1 line run to his home from Verizon at a cost of 10K plus he has a $400 a month internet bill. (3 years ago; his clients pay his freight and he has very few service calls+ reduced Fuel, Insurance and car expenses) Things could be worse.
Here in the sticks I have well water - No water bill, Free OTA HDTV - after you put up $250 antenna and rotor. ,Lower cost of electricity and No NOSY neighbors... nearest on is 1800 ft south of my house. Plus oodles of privacy!!! Have option for Directv for SAT TV . If I want hi speed then I know what it costs.. You aren't the first person to try to encourage the cable companies as they 'cherry pick' what neighborhoods they will serve. My neighborhood has 30 Business owners..within 1 mile of non-served Cable lines.