urbanMSP

In the case of phones we have fees to ensure build out and maintenance of the system. The cable monopolies had no incentive to build out internet service.

In my mind all utilities should be publicly owned and not run for a profit but for the benefit of the public, just like we do for roads.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I'm definitely not advocating for further privatization, but I'm not sure roadbuilding is a model to follow...

Is USI 'redlining' Powderhorn?

http://www.citypages.com/news/us-intern ... ign=buffer

Anyone have a Plex Pass? They just introduced TV streaming and I'm curious how well it works. I use the free version for movies and such in-home, but have been considering the Pass to take things with me. The new TV service would be a bonus.

Hmm, I think I misunderstood how that TV service works with Plex. I'd been hoping it would use something other than my current OTA antenna. We get terrible interference from planes going overhead and it's kind of annoying. Not annoying enough to get cable again, but annoying nonetheless.

The new Plex TV service is a lower cost "TiVo style" cable box replacement - it works with cable cards. Interesting product but only useful if you already have a cable sub.

I have a plex pass and being able to download stuff onto iPads for my kids to watch while traveling is worth the price alone. It's a great product.

Is USI 'redlining' Powderhorn?

http://www.citypages.com/news/us-intern ... ign=buffer

No. USI has been very upfront that they've been looking for property to house their switches for that neighborhood for a long time.

Recently read on a Nextdoor post that USI is closing in on purchasing property to serve Powderhorn and entire east side of So. Mpls. Found the Reddit post by Travis that Nextdoor person was referring to here,

https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/co ... ars_to_be/

Regarding the explanation that Travis has given in the past about the boulevard needed to lay fiber down and streets like Bryant not getting it because of the concrete and no grassy boulevard, how do they handle the very large trees in the boulevard. Is there a risk to the tree when the lay the fiber? Wondering how they get thru the roots.

I'm not an expert on this, but my sense is that the directional boring that they use would impact such a tiny portion of a large tree's root structure that it should have effectively no effect on the tree's health.

any updates? been a while.

This Reddit thread is pretty recent: https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/co ... f_comcast/
Looks like they're hard at work in Windom/Kenny & south Linden Hills to get those areas completed before the snow flies. Loring Park was mentioned as well, though it doesn't show up on their map yet.

I'm still on the lookout for any information about finishing eastern Standish-Ericsson (west of Hiawatha, 36th St down to the creek). At one point we were on tap for 2017, but they opted to do SW instead.

In regards to the FCC announcement on Net Neutrality today, is it safe to assume US Internet won't be throttling their speeds? I would think they'd have an even greater demand for their services if they don't. Wishing they could ramp up the roll out in Minneapolis. I tried their upgraded wifi service a while ago and it didn't go so well for me. I may have to try harder.

When I e-mailed them last time net-neutrality discussions came up they said that they will never throttle content. Hoping they stick to their word!

But of course they're only a regional provider. They still rely on the big monopolies for access to the backbone.

The ISPs most likely to throttle are the ones who own their own content providers and on-demand TV services. Comcast wants you to pay them for movies, not Netflix or Amazon or Hulu. It's hard to convince end users to choose them when the third-party services perform as well or better—BUT, if suddenly Xfinity's video is crisp and clear while Netflix buffers endlessly...it becomes a more favorable debate for the ISP.

Obviously, this scenario doesn't apply to USI. One that would, however, would be slicing up internet services into packages (social media, video, etc) and charging for each. I'm thrilled to hear they will never do that—I just hope it sticks.

I wonder how 5G wireless home internet will shape things if Net Neutrality is rolled back. It would be a lot harder to keep competitors out of the marketplace if they only needed to set up transponders instead of laying fiber optic cable to connect consumers, and if a company like Google showed up in a market and promised no throttling or packaging, would the incumbents have to begrudgingly meet consumer demand?

I don't want to have to find out.

I'd prefer to not have to either but the writing's on the wall. This was one of the things at stake in 2016 when people were too busy focusing on emails.

OK, this is a legitimately clear-eyed take on the entire NN situation: https://stratechery.com/2017/pro-neutra ... erful_done