Ma Bell wants more money, so, Mr Customer, BOHICA

Nope. Once an area has an installed fiber network, then other fiber companies will not be very interested because the “low hanging fruit” has already been picked. This area already has a fiber network in the street–the same fiber the building owner refused to allow to run fiber in the building (at no cost to the owner). There is “other” fiber nearby, as we are near the “great fiber loop” that runs around the metro area. But I am unaware of any Comcast fiber in the area. So this complex is not “low hanging fruit”–it is more akin to “moldy and about ready to be tossed in the garbage”.

5G is irrelevant. I can get AT&T 4G LTE, but not a peep about 5G. Can’t get T-Mobile 4G, so how would I get 5G? Friend of mine is in same neighborhood. He gets great T-Mobile coverage–but he lives in a regular house, not in a steel-and-concrete high rise. I believe this complex has the antennae for some 4G coverage, as it is (by far) the tallest of all buildings within about a mile-plus radius (2-mile diameter).

Downtown Minneapolis was one of the first areas in the country wired for 5G–for the Super Bowl. That is about 3 miles north of me. Just two blocks east of me is I-35W, a major transit route for N-S traffic. This would be a “natural” extension route of the 5G network. So would the areas running E-W of my location. A major E-W “in-town” roadway with lots of new construction (condos/apts, not houses) and significant economic development. Another “natural” expansion of the 5G network because it is adjacent to it rather than disconnected via a large gap between service areas. There would be no coverage gap and no real spot where 5G would not be reasonably used. Then there is I-94, which is roughly where “downtown” Minneapolis ends–as does most of the original 5G coverage. I-94 is a major E-W freeway running to N Dakota and points north and west. Remember: Most of the metro area is outside the cities, so an area roughly 75-100 miles E-W and about 50-60 miles N-S would be reasonable for a 5G network. Yes, there is some farm land out there. But, it is being converted to housing areas and other uses for people who work in/near the metro area, so the farms are going-going-but-not-quite yet–gone.

I have 2 fiber networks to choose from. I also can receive 5G from Tmobile and Verizon. I also live in a town of 17,000 people. It might be time for you to move.

Andy

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Considered it, but realistically can’t. Disabilities limit a lot of choices.

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I am shocked that you, @steve203, are paying over $100 a month for an internet connection!!!

T-Mobile’s offer is $20/mo off the regular price, for a limited time. If you don’t have T-Mobile cell phone, the internet bait rate is $50, which would imply the price goes to $70 when the bait rate period is over. And you only get that rate if you give them access to your bank account for “auto-pay”. If I had given Comcast free access to my bank account, they would have taken me for hundreds in fraudulent charges that would have taken months, if ever, to recover. Without “auto-pay” they charge $5 extra per month.

T-Mobile’s cheapest cell plan seems to be for $60/mo bait rate, again with giving them free access to my bank account. Regular price appears to be $65. So T-Mobile for voice and internet, when the bait rates expire would be $115, plus what they scam from my bank account.

Ma Bell is charging me $61/mo, as of my August bill, for internet, with paper billing that I can pay by check.

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