Comments on: Real Rural Tech Talk Focuses On Future Of North Escambia Broadband Internet Service http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:16:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Taylon http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-448092 Taylon Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:47:58 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-448092 As someone that lives in Walnut Hill now I use a combination of Viasat and a mobile hotspot for internet. I don't believe anything from these initiatives will happen in any type of reasonable timeframe (in other words 5-10-15 years from now doesn't help me). Heck, for the three houses on the road I live on there's no way a company like Charter will run fiber, or anything resembling gigabit speeds out here. They would gladly take the government money, and then we'd never see any progress out of it. Isn't that basically what they did up on New York? I have preordered Starlink. Fingers crossed it's released by the end of 2021 like they say it will. If I can drop Viasat for actual high-speed, less than half the price, and unlimited internet I'll do it on day 1 - and no, Viasat is not high speed or truly unlimited. I have their most expensive service and as I type this I have a blazing 4Mbps (nowhere near the 150 they claim), our quota reset on the 8th, and we don't have a tree in sight to obstruct the view. If it does speed up any we can hit the 150 gig cap within 2 weeks easily (1 week depending on school and work), and while after that you don't get cut off you do get "deprioritized" and speeds come to an even slower crawl. I probably use my mobile hotspot more at this point. It's more reliable for work and school video calls. Having said that, we knew what we were in for when we bought our house and moved out of Pensacola last year. While I would love to have true high-speed internet again, I don't want to do it at the cost of my sanity - haha. As someone that lives in Walnut Hill now I use a combination of Viasat and a mobile hotspot for internet. I don’t believe anything from these initiatives will happen in any type of reasonable timeframe (in other words 5-10-15 years from now doesn’t help me). Heck, for the three houses on the road I live on there’s no way a company like Charter will run fiber, or anything resembling gigabit speeds out here. They would gladly take the government money, and then we’d never see any progress out of it. Isn’t that basically what they did up on New York?

I have preordered Starlink. Fingers crossed it’s released by the end of 2021 like they say it will. If I can drop Viasat for actual high-speed, less than half the price, and unlimited internet I’ll do it on day 1 – and no, Viasat is not high speed or truly unlimited.

I have their most expensive service and as I type this I have a blazing 4Mbps (nowhere near the 150 they claim), our quota reset on the 8th, and we don’t have a tree in sight to obstruct the view. If it does speed up any we can hit the 150 gig cap within 2 weeks easily (1 week depending on school and work), and while after that you don’t get cut off you do get “deprioritized” and speeds come to an even slower crawl. I probably use my mobile hotspot more at this point. It’s more reliable for work and school video calls.

Having said that, we knew what we were in for when we bought our house and moved out of Pensacola last year. While I would love to have true high-speed internet again, I don’t want to do it at the cost of my sanity – haha.

]]> By: Retired Deputy http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-448069 Retired Deputy Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:19:31 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-448069 I hope the county looks at other alternatives than Charter Communications/Spectrum. Many residences, including mine are located a distance off the roadway and unless the county or Charter Communications is going to give a substantial discount to run the fiber from the roadway to the end user, this is not going to be economically feasible for a large number of users. Also, having fiber (cable) above ground is not a good idea in case of a direct hit from a hurricane. Ask anyone who lived in the Panama City Beach area about how long it took to restore service when 99% of the telephone poles were destroyed. Seems like cable(fiber) is already behind the technology today. An ISP would most likely need a subsidy from the county to be economically feasible. I hope the county looks at other alternatives than Charter Communications/Spectrum. Many residences, including mine are located a distance off the roadway and unless the county or Charter Communications is going to give a substantial discount to run the fiber from the roadway to the end user, this is not going to be economically feasible for a large number of users. Also, having fiber (cable) above ground is not a good idea in case of a direct hit from a hurricane. Ask anyone who lived in the Panama City Beach area about how long it took to restore service when 99% of the telephone poles were destroyed. Seems like cable(fiber) is already behind the technology today. An ISP would most likely need a subsidy from the county to be economically feasible.

]]> By: Bama54 http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-448035 Bama54 Sun, 11 Apr 2021 02:28:10 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-448035 Are there other internet providers interested in partnering with the county? I know you have Verizon, AT&T, along with Other communication carriers out there who provide internet access. I believe the citizens of the north end of county would be well serve if others were given opportunity to partner with the county. Are there other internet providers interested in partnering with the county? I know you have Verizon, AT&T, along with Other communication carriers out there who provide internet access. I believe the citizens of the north end of county would be well serve if others were given opportunity to partner with the county.

]]> By: BIG JOHN http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-448032 BIG JOHN Sun, 11 Apr 2021 01:18:53 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-448032 WHAT IS ALL THIS GOING COST TO HAVE IT IN YOUR HOME???? AS NOW I HAVE EXEDE VIASAT FROM EREC, AND IT ONLY COST ME $86.06 PER MONTH !!!!!! WHAT IS ALL THIS GOING COST TO HAVE IT IN YOUR HOME???? AS NOW I HAVE EXEDE VIASAT FROM EREC, AND IT ONLY COST ME $86.06 PER MONTH !!!!!!

]]> By: Charter is terrible http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-447983 Charter is terrible Sat, 10 Apr 2021 15:12:56 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-447983 Charter(spectrum) wants $9k to run cable to me 700'. A cost that was double what erec charged to run underground power to me. It stops on the pole on the parcel before my parcel. I have no faith in them caring. The folks at the local office are also extremely rude. Charter(spectrum) wants $9k to run cable to me 700′. A cost that was double what erec charged to run underground power to me. It stops on the pole on the parcel before my parcel. I have no faith in them caring. The folks at the local office are also extremely rude.

]]> By: William Reynolds http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-447969 William Reynolds Sat, 10 Apr 2021 13:48:23 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-447969 >>Does this mean we can get rid of Spectrum for internet service? (Charter owns Spectrum.) >>Does this mean we can get rid of Spectrum for internet service?

(Charter owns Spectrum.)

]]> By: StraightShooter http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-447951 StraightShooter Sat, 10 Apr 2021 11:35:03 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-447951 Does this mean we can get rid of Spectrum for internet service? Does this mean we can get rid of Spectrum for internet service?

]]> By: sam http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-447948 sam Sat, 10 Apr 2021 11:28:47 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-447948 will believe it when i see it. will believe it when i see it.

]]> By: Dane W http://www.northescambia.com/2021/04/real-rural-tech-talk-focuses-on-future-of-north-escambia-broadband-internet-service/comment-page-1#comment-447943 Dane W Sat, 10 Apr 2021 10:50:21 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=437987#comment-447943 Where is Santa Rosa commissioners??? As an example, Jay high school has a totally unreliable internet connection. Most kids have zero internet at their home, AT &T is spotty and Verizon does not work in most areas. Maybe the new Santa Rosa County school superintendent will make the rural north end a priority as they have been forgotten for far too long! Where is Santa Rosa commissioners??? As an example, Jay high school has a totally unreliable internet connection. Most kids have zero internet at their home, AT &T is spotty and Verizon does not work in most areas. Maybe the new Santa Rosa County school superintendent will make the rural north end a priority as they have been forgotten for far too long!

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