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So Greer CPW is a decent utility. I have them for lights, water, gas. They also cover a fairly large area as well.
What would it take for them to start offering fiber internet? Similar to many small utilities all over the US that do the exact same thing?
One example is EBP Chattanooga - power, water, etc and fiber internet - 1GB for $69.99?!?! And there are countless others all over the US.
I know it would be a major physical undertaking with laying the fiber, etc. But does anyone know if Greer CPW even has this as an inkling of an idea to provide this service? They would make so much money and it would be such a massive boost to the Greer economy as well.
I think I would rather have Greer provide the service rather than a commercial company like (and especially) Google who, no doubt, would just keep raising the price like all the rest. Not that Greer would not also, but it would seem that the Greer residents/customers might be able to better have a chance to control the costs. I know I would be happy sign up.
It would take changing state law. The cable and phone company lobby successfully greased the wheels to pass a law making it illegal for almost all public utilities to offer internet in this state:
Companies like Charter and AT&T don't want to have to compete with the public utility. In Chattanooga, the public utility offers a faster service for less money. In cities where Google has come in, the local cable companies often increase their speed AND reduce their price.
Average internet speed in the US is slower than in many second world economies like Uruguay.
It would take changing state law. The cable and phone company lobby successfully greased the wheels to pass a law making it illegal for almost all public utilities to offer internet in this state:
Companies like Charter and AT&T don't want to have to compete with the public utility. In Chattanooga, the public utility offers a faster service for less money. In cities where Google has come in, the local cable companies often increase their speed AND reduce their price.
Average internet speed in the US is slower than in many second world economies like Uruguay.
I think that they could probably get that overturned if they fought it, but they'd have to decide to spend the money (both to build the infrastructure, and to fight the state).
Lack of competition is why internet speed is so slow in the US. Couple that with large parts of the country with no broadband, and we are behind 3rd world countries in some cases:
Really wondering if there is the ability to spur some conversation with our Government regarding this and see if this is truly holding back SC from broadband competition.
I love your way of thinking. It has puzzled me that no one is giving Charter a run for their money since everyone seems to hate them and there are plenty of folks in this area who can afford internet service. My parents live in a town with a population of around 13,000 and they have better internet service than we do from Charter because a small company came to town and laid fiber. They pay about as much as we do for Charter, but have much better/faster service.
Well, I'd like to keep this discussion going. I think this is something quite valuable to the Upstate and our SC economy in general. That and I love competition. It keeps businesses honest.
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