Re: DSL in rural America
Hi elmatador,
Here's a microcosmic view of what is happening in a backwater of America. Location: Bend, Oregon. This area has probably got a population of 100K including satellite communities such as Tumalo, where I live.
DSL is just coming to town this month, via Oregontrail.com which is headquartered in Pendleton, OR. They will be offering 128K connections, without voice capabilities on the dry pair for $80 per month. Means that you will have to install a second line and pay about $16 per month additional to Qworst. USWorst's Megabit (sic) DSL at 256K is not available in our area, but is starting to be used on the west side of the Cascades in Portland, Salem and Eugene.
What is available in out area is cable modem, via Bend Cable on the Roadrunner system. It is brilliant. Cost: up front $100 for the 3com CMX modem, a vast improvement over the MOT Cybersurfer, according to one knowledgeable user I know. The monthly is $35 for all you can eat, always on service. This has me jumping out of my skin with the possibilities. I currently am running my puter double headed and will soon be going for the triple. The multiple screens make analysis sooo much easier it is unbelievable. And the bandwidth has been consistently averaging 1Mbps.
I have no idea who oregontrail.com hopes to sell their expensive broken kludge to. Anyone comparing the cable, which is ubiquitous in town to the DSL offering is going to be really foolish to stick with UTP, IMO.
HTH, Ray
BTW, Hi RTev, I'm looking forward to your reply. <vbg> |
