BTES vs. Charter - Bristol TN Internet (Blountville: rental, live in)

[drex75]

Which is better -- BTES or Charter for internet/phone/tv?

Looks like both have horrible reviews on Google - mainly customer service seems to be an issue. Just wondering what most people in Bristol sign up for.

[sprintuser2014]

I'd take Charter over BTES, honestly Charter isn't that bad they have some decent rates and good internet speeds. They also have no internet caps unlike many other ISP's these days. Charter has some weak customer service but honestly everybody these days at best has average customer in the cable/internet field. Most people I know with Charter have actually been quite happy but I've not heard one good thing about BTES.

[Serious Conversation]

BTES has supposedly gone downhill lately.

I grew up having Charter and my parents have had it since 2000 or so when we got their first cable modem (aunt worked at Charter and got us into a beta program essentially). Service wasn't great until 2006 or so - I was 19 in 2005 and the internet routinely went out in the morning around 10 but was up before I left for work at 12.

Since then, it's been fine and has gotten better. Dad gets about 80 mbps on a 50 mbps plan. Whatever you do, do not rent their equipment. All rental modems and routers are just garbage, no matter what provider issues them.

[sprintuser2014]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

BTES has supposedly gone downhill lately.

I grew up having Charter and my parents have had it since 2000 or so when we got their first cable modem (aunt worked at Charter and got us into a beta program essentially). Service wasn't great until 2006 or so - I was 19 in 2005 and the internet routinely went out in the morning around 10 but was up before I left for work at 12.

Since then, it's been fine and has gotten better. Dad gets about 80 mbps on a 50 mbps plan. Whatever you do, do not rent their equipment. All rental modems and routers are just garbage, no matter what provider issues them.

Charter doesn't charge any modem rental fees, one of the few providers that doesn't. So if you take their modem it's the same price as not doing so. Honestly for most people their provided equipment is fine.

[Trevor92]

Just to add a different perspective, I'd go with BTES if I could. I've heard they have a good service at reasonable rates and it's a local utility which is providing competition to what is essentially a nationwide monopoly of cable providers. I actually know a couple people in the Blountville area and they like BTES and have commented several times about how they're glad they don't have to use Comcast or Charter.

I actually have Charter because I live in an area without an option and the internet service is solid. Customer service is as well. They leave a lot to be desired as far as technology goes. Cox and Verizon FiOS are way ahead in terms of on-demand offerings and the DVR feature provided a lot more memory with those other providers. It was 5 years ago that I moved to the area and Cox and Verizon were at that time ahead of where Charter is now. At least we can all agree on hating Comcast with poor customer service and data caps.

[meo92953]

What great information, one of the reasons I love CD.