DSL Access / Prices about to skyrocket?

[|MP|Buccaneer]

In a nutshell, the FCC has struck down an older rule called "line sharing".  This was where the baby bell's had to grant access to the infrasturcture (phon lines and switches) to competing DSL companies (read COVAD, NORTHPOINT and any other resellers).  The baby bell (now usually SBC) would have to grant access, and usually only for a charge of $10 or under.  It's how the other DSL companies could keep costs low.

The basis for the old decision was that since DSL didn't effect any of the existing operations, the baby bell wasn't incurring any extra costs.

Well, that's gone bye-bye now.  The baby bells have convinced the FCC that in order to roll out newer, better technology, and do it faster, and to more of the population, they need more incentive.  They are afraid that if they invest all the money in better infrastructure, the thrid party resellers would make all the profits from it.  And that is a sound argument.  

But, it seems like a shitty solution (one extreme or the other).

What it means is, higher rates with no change of service in the short term, but better services sometime in the future.

Now, this is a nutshell version.  I included both sides, but not all the facts.  So you can feel free to investigate on your own.  This was meant as a public service announcement to those of you using DSL that is provided through SBC (or other baby bell) lines.  It's full of opinions, so if it concerns you, go learn more.

[tasty]

I already got ripped off for my fucking DSL in Des Moines. In addition to having to pay exorbinant fees for both the modem and the installation, I think with all the additive charges we pay about 46 a month (for both the DSL and the internet access provided with it). For 46 a month, my max downstream bandwidth was 65 kbps and my max upstream was 22. Anything that will cause this ridiculous service to go up in price is bullshit too as far as I'm concerned.

[|MP|Buccaneer]

Tasty, is that really a little k?  As you you get like 7Kb/s download speeds (just a tiny bit better then a 56k modem)?  Or is that like in 65Kb/s (which would be about a 512kbs speed)?  Just checking because people confuse them all the time.  And I didn't know that they did DSL slower then 128kbs (ISDN speeds are 64 and 128).

But, just to contrast for you Tasty.

Cable service here (where there is only one option) has two levels of service:

For $49/month ($10 off if you have cable TV) you get 1000kbs down and 125kbs up (about 120MB/s downloads and 14Kb/s upload)

or

For $99/month (no discounts) you get 1500kbs down and 300kbs up (around 180MB/s downloads and 29Kb/s uploads)

DSL here is a better deal.  We can get residential SDSL or ADSL here.

ADSL is about the same speeds as basic cable and price range, because it's by SBC.

SDSL around here is usually 512kbs/512kbs for $70 a month.

Or, you can get a Business SDSL or T1 installed.  T1's can go up to $1000/month, but you can find them much cheaper if you look hard and qualify as a business.  We pay about $200/month for the full T1 (1500kbs/1500kbs).

As always, milage may vary, and these are all top speeds.  

[kami]

I pay around $30 for 512/768 (my upload is weird) ADSL, gotta love Sweden.

[PsYcO aSsAsSiN]

Interesting, at my house, we pay $50 a month for 1.5MBps down and 512KBps up.

But maybe that is because we were one of the first people to get DSL in the mid-1990's...beats me.

[BTs_Colin]

Canadian DSL pricing is : $40 gets you 960/160. $70 gets you 3.5/800

That's CAD remember.

So you 'merican's is gettin' ripped

[Ace]

My lord, how can you people live with so little bandwidth. 6mbit+ symmetric connections are the only way of life.

[PsYcO aSsAsSiN]

My lord, how can you people live with so little bandwidth. 6mbit+ symmetric connections are the only way of life.

Yup, I know the feeling...except we have 45mbps ds3 lines  

[[[EUR]] HoloGram]

2 mbit symetric neginnig with the next month ( Germany ) 49 ?/month

[*DAMN Mauti]

Bucc when you posted "about 120MB/s downloads and 14Kb/s upload)" I guess you wanted to say 120kbyte/s.

Well I pay 70bucks/month for cable with 600/128kbit flatrate(unlimited download), cable tv and phone.

Btw *DAMN gets soon a 2MBIT SDSL dedicated GR server. Elandrion is boosting his connection. But I guess the ping won't be better - currently Bander, Elandrion and I have the same isp and I my ping to both is between 3 - 7

Bye,

Mauti

[kos.viper]

For $99/month (no discounts) you get 1500kbs down and 300kbs up (around 180MB/s downloads and 29Kb/s uploads)

What ISP is that Bucc? Comcast is $95/month for 3.5 Mbps and around 300Kbps up

[[[EUR]] HoloGram]

Cool Mauti,

I hope to meet u guys on your new host and with my new connection!
That would be great! hahah

[|MP|Buccaneer]

For $99/month (no discounts) you get 1500kbs down and 300kbs up (around 180MB/s downloads and 29Kb/s uploads)

What ISP is that Bucc? Comcast is $95/month for 3.5 Mbps and around 300Kbps up

Viper, you mean which is it this week.  The ISP for cable here has switched 3 times in the last year I'm told.  (Comcast, TimeWarner and ATT).  All with the same cable.  I couldn't tell you what flavor they are using now, because I don't have it.  My information came from Deadeye.

Don't forget that every city here gets different rates for cable tv.

Colin, are those rates availalble for all of Canada?  Because I sure didn't have them when I was living in Windsor.

[*NADS Capt. Anarchy]

Thank god for cable... we pay $43 or $47 or some odd amount for 1.5/256, including modem. Here, DSL is so much more expensive for the same stuff.

[BTs_Colin]

Ya Bucc they are national AFAIK. Bell Sympatico.

Well they were available in Windsor regardless of anywhere else.