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Like a Conquered Province
Friday, 12 February 2010 22:35
Like_the_Sabine_women34% of West Virginia homes can't get DSL, one of the lowest deployments in the developed world, according to the new FCC stats. Jay Rockefeller should have called in Verizon's lobbyists years ago and told them they'd never get a bill through the Senate if they didn't bring his state up to standards. Mountainous Wales is 99% covered and most rural areas of Europe are over 90%, so the argument this is because of impractically high cost comes out of the rear end of a male cow. The smallest rural carriers in the U.S. reach all but 8%, proving what's practical in rural areas. (All states below). 37% of New Hampshire,  31% of Virginia, 28% of Vermont, 27% of Maine, 26% of Michigan, 24% of Maryland and Mississippi, 22% of Arkansas, 21% of Alaska (despite massive subsidies) and New York all can't get DSL. Cable generally is better, but the FCC data is limited and doesn't include homes not passed by cable for TV. (Phone lines pass all homes but cable only about 96%.)
     This data makes clear the largest problem in DSL deployment is where Verizon virtually stopped all upgrades around 2002 when they decided to sell
New England, West Virginia, upper New York State and Southern Virginia. I'm glad to report that Fairpoint is repairing some of the abuse and in fact will continue the broadband deployment despite the bankruptcy. Verizon treated those states "like a conquered province."
     Cable has done better, offering modems to 96% of homes passed. But 28% of cable customers in Arkansas, 20% Montana and New Mexico, and 15% in Wyoming can't get cable modems per this report. I've sent a note to their state regulators asking if they have a plan to change that. 
Last Updated on Monday, 15 February 2010 01:04