Thanks to WSB Forums member Wakeflood for opening a discussion about this – the city is asking for your feedback right now about Comcast‘s franchise, before deciding on a potential 10-year-renewal. As Wakeflood points out, you can just answer a few quick questions here – or follow the link on that page to a full-fledged more-detailed survey (here).
Took the survey. We actually dropped comcast cable a year ago and have been very happy with over-the-air antenna and roku. Can’t wait for a company like Gigabit Squared to come into west seattle so we can drop comcast internet.
WSEA, unfortunately, it’s not going to be them, but maybe somebody else.
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https://westseattleblog.com/2014/01/gigabit-squared-high-speed-internet-service-deal-reportedly-dead/
Took the survey.
Don’t hold your breath.
There is too little money to be made in this, especially as the new company would have to lay out a lot of infrastructure. Rates would not be cheap and selection would be questionable.
I hope we get something better at some point, but it is not very likely. Only real options would be Century Link (yuk) or Google (not likely any time soon).
I actually don’t mind their service at all. I just hate that you can’t a la carte TV channels. Let the free market decide what channels they want!
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Sorry, I went Repub for a sec! ;)
I dropped their cable many years ago and have not missed it.
I have the Internet service and I have to admit that I am very satisfied with it. Have not had a single outage in the last 3 years, bandwidth is consistent.
I have had many issues with them as a company for many of the 15 years I have lived in Seattle, but at present I have nothing bad to say just about their internet service.
I hate the lack of options. Anyone moving into West Stealattle knows their options are Comcast or Centurylink, both of which are really poor providers. The lack of competition makes for s–t providence.
Been cable clients with comcast and the earlier providers here in WS since mid 1990s and very happy w comcast cable internet and phone
Comcast has been rated the “worst company in America” for a reason. Now I believe they may only be the “third worst company in America”. Atrocious service. Abysmal customer service. Slow internet speed. Frequent outages.
I wish Seattle could gigabyte service like other high-tech hubs of the world such as Kansas City, Provo, and Austin.
As long as Comcast/Time Warner’s virtual monopoly remains intact, Seattle’s broadband speeds and overall service will continue to suffer.
Not that all of us need the speed, but competition does improve Internet service as the folks in Austin, TX found out when Google fiber announced their plans to enter that market & compete with Time Warner cable. Faster download & upload speeds at no additional charge. I have Comcast’s basic cable and use them for the Internet. My complaint is that they don’t provide the speed you’re paying for, typically about half of what’s advertised.
I wonder if our lack of internet options will keep some companies from thinking of starting here.
The entire communications industry is essentially a monopoly, what with all the mergers and acquisitions of the last couple of decades.
The pending Comcast/Time-Warner merger is another nail in the coffin of thriving, effective, true journalism, limiting all of us with regard to content and consumer choice.
That our input to these corporate raiders, at this stage of the game, would affect their agenda is, sadly, laughable.
Mcginn was a proponent for low cost, high speed internet for all… Murray was backed by many campaign contributions from Comcast and it’s counterparts… That’s why Gigabit squared and that dream of low cost, high speed internet access for all, died when Murray took over the mayor-ship of Seattle…
Every neighborhood in Seattle is wired with fiber optic alongside the power lines… All that is needed now is to mount high speed relays intermittently to broadcast to modems of people who are willing to pay for them throughout those neighborhoods… Or even better piggyback those relays along with the new “Smart-meters” planned for us city light customers… And allow ISP’s to lease this infrastructure from city light… Just as Comcast and the likes do right now from Counties throughout Washington…
All that needs for this to happen is a simple rule change by our legislature regarding the outdated and archaic “public right of way” rules involving telephone poles…
Unfortunately for us… Comcast and it’s 2 competing counterparts bending us over with their monopolistic fees will do just about anything politically to never allow this to happen… While they continue to spread misinformation stating that this is a far fetched idea and much too expensive to ever become a reality…
Don’t believe their PR hype…
Done and done.
Thank you so much for reposting!
If you treasure your hard earned money, and still enjoy TV and online entertainment, please complete the survey!
I would love some other options. As a small business, we are stuck with Comcast and let me tell you for the same service we have at home, we pay 42% more, and get charged for everything. We cannot provide our own equipment, and when I asked why I was told “it is not an option for our business customers” for a static IP, 14.95 a month, equipment charge, 8.00 a month, basic internet, 79.95 a month. And you HAVE to sign a contract. Oh, and everytime someone has to come out (so far every year something breaks) its a 99.00 trip charge.
Please give Seattle another provider! Comcast has terrible customer service, their pricing is high and my internet service constantly needs rebooting.
thanks WSB and wakeflood. i took both surveys. (there’s a 40-question “please rate from 1 – 5” survey linked to the link above.
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i was vaguely aware that the city has an office of cable communications. hopefully they have some teeth…
Wow, nice to see that folks are voicing their opinion – please repost or send this link to your friends and neighbors! If we believe in people-centered governance, this is how we get the results we want.
I rely on my internet for work and home and Comcast drops around here frequently, I get slower speeds than advertised and pay through the nose. What’s not to like?
I second/third the responses above that suggest that monopolies only change when threatened with competition. Or in the words of Dean Wormer, “fat, drunk and stupid” is no way to access the internet, son.
I’m about to fill this out. I have Comcast internet and cable and it is the 2nd biggest bill behind our mortgage. I just wonder if this is a ruse or not and the 10 year renewal has already been decided by the influence of special interests.
BTW, I want a la carte too. So many channels I don’t watch or want
Can’t wait to drop comcast. Worst internet service ever. Can’t even stream games now that they started throttling every service they can. It’ll be amazing when Google fiber finally gets here.
I’m not going to forget Comcast ruining March Madness by causing the games to drop every 10 minutes. Even if it’s not their fault, they’re still getting the blame because they started throttling bandwidth to sites to start with.
All of the sudden Xbox live is running crappy as well. Way to build a loyal customer base, Comcast. First opportunity we get to leave you we will be running for the door.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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