Basic Needs
With such emphasis on technology for education and daily life it is STILL amazing to me that there are areas with no Internet access. I find it difficult to understand why large communities and subdivisions off of I-95 are still without valid internet options. I’ve ranted about this before, but it’s still killing me and it’s hurting our housing market, on top of an already difficult season! Many clients have refused to buy where they cannot have internet access.
I’ve moved into Lake Land’or in the past month or so, coming from near Ladysmith Village – where there is high speed access through Verizon. Here in a more densely occupied area of the county there is no high speed internet.
Where’s the Progress?
I’ve watched over the past month as installers have been putting in the infrastructure. For the past two weeks I haven’t seen anyone working, so I called Comcast and they (to my delight) told me that they would have someone out today to install it. Well, you guessed it – Comcast has no idea what they are talking about! An installer called this morning and said that it’ll be months before the system is actually up and running. He advised that they targeted the beginning of the year, but that they couldn’t meet that goal and it would still be many months before it would be available.
It makes me crazy that in 2007 (entering 2008) we haven’t gotten the resources that have become almost as important as telephone service to every home. It makes me crazy that Comcast has no idea who they even have provided service to and more so that Verizon can’t seem to install what they need a mere mile down the road from where it exists now to service all the homes in Lake Land’or. My previous home backed to Lake Land’or and had Verizon DSL there for over THREE YEARS!
How often are folks using the internet?
A Few Updates and Related Posts
Since writing this post in 2007, we’ve tried to provide as much information as can find about this issue. We’re thankful to the folks who have commented on this topic on the blog. Below are a few related updates:
Update on Internet in Caroline
Education and Internet: Caroline’s Missing Link
Could the Stimulus Package Help Get Caroline High-Speed Internet?
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Yeah Matthew, some friends of ours live off that road and have Verizon internet. It’s just weird how spotty Comcast is in the area. Some place have it and others don’t.
The costs of providing the service really shouldn’t be an issue though to these companies. Several bills have been passed (one with the help of Verizon) to provide tax incentives and rebates to provides who expand into rural areas. When I talked to the manager in the Richmond Verizon office he said our area would fall within the guidelines of those bills.
I feel bad for others who have lived here a lot longer then I have, I know it’s driving me crazy and I’ve only been here a couple years.
I’ll give it time, but I might have to consider moving myself like others suggested.
We have only lived in Lake Caroline since July, and I HATE it. I never thought to ask if there was high speed through here because I thought in this day and age, that they would have it. We are so glad we are renting because once this lease is up, we are moving….I can not stand being on dialup.
Thanks for the additional info, I have been trying to figure this out since I moved here. There are plenty of homes in Lake Land or alone to pay for a new (box) that they call it. If they can install this box without building a new Office , I say we push them to do it, I wonder in the HOA can convice them to do it?
Seems its in our best interests to get it, I believe housing prices would be more attractive if we all had high speed internet.
Another thing, they say its 18k feet from the CO, well, riding my bike home the other day I reset my mileage counter, and 18,000 ft is right at the stop sign on the Land or side, So any home before that stop sign should be able to get it? ( If there is enough space left on the box)
http://whirlpool.net.au/news/?id=1432
Thanks Brian. Anyone want to start a petition in a range of 18,000 feet????
Here is an update for everyone. I live on the heritage side of Lake Land Or’ off of Canterbury drive. This street is pretty far away from the main entrance about one mile. My next door neighbor has DSL and my neighbor in front of me has DSL. When I spoke with a Verizon rep. he told me that DSL in available on my street but all of the DSL circuits at the CO are full. So, unless someone cancels their service, I will not be able to get it. I am holding out for Comcast….. But here is some good news for the future; I came across the FDA (fiber Deployment area) for Verizon deployment areas of were Verizon plans on installing FIOS in by county. Caroline is on the list but I do not have any time frame but at least we are on the list. The things is that FIOS is about 20 or so miles north of us and considering they would have to upgrade the Ladysmith CO to handle the FIOS/laying the infrastructure it’s going to be some time in the future. My guess would be within 5 years or so. It would be nice to move to a new area where broadband access is available unfortunately for me I bought my house at the tail end of the housing boom so I’m stuck here I am not sure when the market for this area when raise again but probably not anytime in the near future. Hopefully, by that time Comcast / Verizon will have upgraded everyone in Ladysmith to have broadband access. In the mean time check out Sprint or Verizon mobile broadband internet I’m getting speed around 500 down and 71 up with Sprint plus I have purchased a mobile broadband router and have install a small trucker style Wi-Fi antenna on my roof to solve my broadband problem for now. I know 500kb down is not DSL speeds but it’s a whole lot better than dial up. Plus I can take my internet connection wherever I get Cell service.
good idea Jennifer, ill sign any petition you start up.
to Brian, i knew the CO had been full for a long time, but they can add a new DSLAM, its the size of a pizza box and can handle more connections.
This would only involve more bandwidth to that CO, and thats not that difficult to achieve.
I’m thinking they dont want to add a new DSLAM for just a few people, so the petition could help, I think small DSLAMS will hold like 24 connections, so after 24 signatures, they might feel inclined to add another pizza box.
but, then there is the range issue, and the link i proivided shows there is technology that will extend a DSL signal.
Come to think of it, I have been paying attention, and i have seen large water tight boxes attached to telephone poles, and I cant help but wonder if those are the remote DSLAMS that we need @ our front gate
anyone heard anymore news?
Here is an update from Verizon about Fios installs in Virginia: http://carolinevablog.com/technology/verizon-fails-again-verizon-releases-list-of-fios-installs/
Matthew Rathbun’s last blog post..Jesus Wants the Rose!
Hi gang: I just posted an update from Caroline’s Economic Director on Internet access in Caroline: http://www.carolinevablog.com/caroline-county/high-speed-internet-in-caroline-county-an-update-from-the-county/
Lake Land’or has chosen a High Speed Internet Vendor!: http://www.vahomeplace.com/surprise-its-high-speed-internet-for-lake-landor-in-caroline-va/
← Previous Comments
{ 3 trackbacks }