Advancing the understanding and utilization of technology in Sonoma Valley.
Broadband Access in Sonoma
Did you read "High speed Internet is not a luxury" in the Valley Forum section of the March 2 Sonoma Index-Tribune. We need to find a solution to this hodgepodge of broadband deadspots in Sonoma that taxes our businesses.
We've started an experiment to see if we can map where service is and is not in Sonoma. Please put a placemark on this Google map to record where there is:
- No broadband (RED)
- Just AT&T DSL (BLUE)
- Just Comcast broadband (YELLOW)
- Both AT&T and Comcast (GREEN)
We are particularly interested in areas where there is no broadband access (RED).
If you think there is a better way to map this, let us know.
Thanks!
Chip
Tags: at&t, att, broadband, comcast, dsl, internet, map, sonoma
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chip Roberson on
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Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology is based on the utilization of existing copper twister-pair lines in the ground. Copper, twisted-pair lines and electrical signals have a very specific characteristic that both limits the bandwidth that can be supplied and the distance that can be covered.
AT&T and Comcast are the only "faciliites-based carriers" in the the valley, meaning they are the only ones with physical wires in the ground on or poles. So, the location of AT&T's central office (CO) in Agua Caliente is a huge limiting factor for downtown Sonoma as the DSL signals cannot be driven that far.
What AT&T can do is put in something called a Remote Terminal that extends the reach of a central office and I figure that is what they've done to serve the east side of Sonoma. Still, however, any underground wires that were traveling long distances to the CO need to be rerouted to where the RT is located. Not an easy solution.
Comcast has a similar problem in that it has not fed coax (or fiber) lines into many of the downtown buildings.
Sonic, unfortunately, is not a facilities-based carrier and has to depend on AT&T's lines to deliver service (via T1 or DSL) from the end user back to their network. However, if Sonic were able to put in a 10MB Wimax network in Sonoma, that might be something.
Another option might be for the city, AT&T and Comcast (or a another party) to join forces and start digging up the street so we can lay the conduit and cables to provide the proper facilities and connectivity for broadband.
If Sonic can come in and improve the situation, they get my support!
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Permalink Reply by Sharon Werth on -
Shirin, I live on Broadway, between Watmaugh and Shansky, and have had vom dialup since 1993. A little over two months ago I got a free web-stick from T-Mobile for use with my home PC, and I now have incredibly fast internet service for 49.99 a month. It is 3G with 2 bars (like my cell phone) and there are no extra costs unless I use over 5GB's a month, which would mean using it 10 hours a day or playing a lot of games. I can now watch any and all video's on my favorite web site, The New York Times. I still pay a small fee to vom for email.
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For anyone who's following this thread and the article in the I-T, it's spilled over onto the Sonic.net website:
Cotati, Sonoma Fusion/FlexLink availability
Chip
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Laura Sydell did a great report on the new FCC broadband initiative and the struggle for broadband in Trinity county:
County Stuck In Information Superhighway Slow Lane
I wish she'd do a followup that talks about the troubles small cities like Sonoma has.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Randstrom on
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It is depressing that Comcast, who generated $3.6B in profits for FY2009, cannot increase their investments to reach a larger population of the SMB market. As you have indicated, their cable plant reaches within blocks of downtown Sonoma. There are many technology solutions available to them to extend their network and lock up a good portion of the Sonoma users with a high bandwidth services (with WiFi to the square); especially seeing that AT&T is not providing DSL services to all their customers.
AT&T, in the Midwest U.S.A., is pulling out their twisted pair copper trunks and replacing them with fiber. They are using a new technology (from Kabel-X) to pull the copper wires out of the cable jacket and pulling fiber optic cables into this empty jacket; without trenching! This solution may provide them a cost effective route to delivering high bandwidth services to the rest of the City of Sonoma.
These carriers need to look at new alternatives to delivering their services.
I wish the City of Sonoma the best of luck in their quest for improved bandwidth (and economics).
Tom
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Tom that's very exciting to hear about the Kabel-X system. I can only hope that it will come in useful for us.
Thanks!
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