Best cable and internet service providers? (Jacksonville: home, camp, price)

[travelingfood]

Originally Posted by joninclay

I saw a special a few years ago on "20/20" where John Stossel pointed out government hypocrisy in monopoly laws. Cable companies get to have a monopoly on cities they enter, meaning that while you can select satellite TV as an alternative, you can only get ONE cable company in your city. Meanwhile, DOJ sued Microsoft for having a monopoly on its Internet Explorer browser, despite the fact that Netscape and Opera existed.

The point is that unless the law has changed, there can only be ONE cable company in a given city at a given time.

Comcast is so big now that they've reached the legal subscriber limit before getting called a illegal monopoly. Another buy out will push them over that limit.

[TiggnTaz]

A cable company can not hold more then 51% of all the customers. Once they service 51% of the customers then the federal goverment will step in. Which is why when larger companies buy out areas they are usualing also giving some away. Like if comcast got more FL area they might trade for some area up north instead of just buying the fl area.

Also the law doesn't state that only one company can be in a town. I phily there is Comcast and timewarner. Aslo in my house in Cherry Hill NJ I had both Comcast and Verizon FiOS at the same time for TV,interner and Phone.

Most companies will not try to get a francise agreement if a larger company like comcast is already in that area since because it would be to hard to gain a profitable footing.

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by TiggnTaz

A cable company can not hold more then 51% of all the customers. Once they service 51% of the customers then the federal goverment will step in. Which is why when larger companies buy out areas they are usualing also giving some away. Like if comcast got more FL area they might trade for some area up north instead of just buying the fl area.

Also the law doesn't state that only one company can be in a town. I phily there is Comcast and timewarner. Aslo in my house in Cherry Hill NJ I had both Comcast and Verizon FiOS at the same time for TV,interner and Phone.

Most companies will not try to get a franchise agreement if a larger company like comcast is already in that area since because it would be to hard to gain a profitable footing.

not quite right, I know of very few places where there is any competition for cable service, cable companies usually negotiate exclusive franchises for the areas they serve. comcast is a cable company verizon is a phone company that recently (past 2 years) won a court battle to break cable's monopoly. In addition verizon fios roll out has been very slow and is only available in limited areas.
Bottom line for here for NE FLA, you essentially have 2 choices for tv services, cable or satellite, and 2 choices for internet service, cable or DSL.
Verizon has no presence here in NE FLA.

[travelingfood]

IMO the only potential and meaningful competitor that can move into JAX the market is Verizon. But the cost to establish new business here is tremendous; if they can't piggy back on AT&T's copper and fiber lines. I think I mentioned it before, to build up new networks in this huge city will take huge amount of money and time, plus disruptive construction along the way.
All we'll see now is comcast jacking up price every other full moon.

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by travelingfood

IMO the only potential and meaningful competitor that can move into JAX the market is Verizon. But the cost to establish new business here is tremendous; if they can't piggy back on AT&T's copper and fiber lines. I think I mentioned it before, to build up new networks in this huge city will take huge amount of money and time, plus disruptive construction along the way.
All we'll see now is comcast jacking up price every other full moon.

unfortunately your only alternatives are dish, direct tv or over the air

[travelingfood]

Originally Posted by apvbguy

unfortunately your only alternatives are dish, direct tv or over the air

exactly, but that's another issue besides that they don't over internet service (cheaply).

[floridaexchange]

the new at&t is actually going to get into the tv biz again to break the monopoly. Google Uverse, it will be coming to Jacksonville Fl soon. They also plan to up their default download speeds, rumors of a 10megs dsl. dish and direct are not suitable for Florida's weather unless you like watching tv 6 month out of the year, as they always goes out.

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by floridaexchange

the new at&t is actually going to get into the tv biz again to break the monopoly. Google Uverse, it will be coming to Jacksonville Fl soon. They also plan to up their default download speeds, rumors of a 10megs dsl. dish and direct are not suitable for Florida's weather unless you like watching tv 6 month out of the year, as they always goes out.

right now Att is reselling directv here in NE FLA, and your comment about being able to only watch tv for 6 months a year is false and malicious also. If you are going to offer info here, some people actually depend on us for the real scoop, your comments should have some basis in the truth

[TiggnTaz]

Moderator cut: edit....sorry, copywrite infringement....please provide a link instead

[Shadow2930]

currently in the Jacksonville, FL market, the ATT is going to be coming out with fiber optic internet and cable, to go along with their phone, it will be comming out around 3rd or 4th quarter one of their reps internal stated that the speed will be 10 megs for around 45.95. Now comcast is working towards offering things along the line as 16-150 megs, they will be offering that sometime end of this year to next year for around the same price as the 8 meg currently is, by the end of next year or mayby a little later, they are looking at also adding city wide wireless, so when you leave your house you will still have internet on you laptops. For right now, the future of what is the better company to go with is somewhat up for grabs, so go with what you want now, try not to sign any contracts, which is a big plus for comcast, no contracts with them.