High Speed Internet Service Providers Reviewed

AT&T Uverse customers in Connecticut  are getting a belated holiday gift.  Uverse added two channels to the lineup for northeastern sports fans, including teams that play in or around Madison Square Garden.  The channels – MSG HD and MSG + HD, feature teams including the New York Islanders hockey team, the New Jersey Devils, and the New York Rangers.  This change comes as a result of a federal appeals court ruling in December where Cablevision attempted to block internet service providers AT&T and Verizon from carrying the channels.  Cablevision had spun off the channels in 2011, but wanted to decide which providers could access it’s content.  Cablevision views the ruling as a “manipulation of federal law by Verizon and AT&T.”  Dan York, President of Cotent for AT&T said “After years of seeking access to this programming, we’re pleased to bring MSG HD and MSG + HD to U-verse TV customers.  We’re delighted that our U-verse TV customers now have access to these important HD sports channels on reasonable terms.  We will continue to work diligently on behalf o four customers to continue enhancing U-verse TV by adding the content they want at fair terms and prices.”

The Ukiah, California, Daily Journal had an interesting article yesterday that emphasizes how much government entities wish to provide high speed broadband to their citizenry. Many people move to Mendocino County because of the rural charm it offers.  However, the county also suffers from a lack of speedy, reliable Internet access — and that has made country living a troublesome trade off. According to the article, the United States even lags behind some African countries when it comes to offering broadband to rural areas. The Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County, however, hopes to change that. The organization was formed by a local group with one purpose in mind —  bringing broadband to the county.  The all volunteer group, formed six months ago, is made up of interested citizens and tech professionals.  All have been impacted by the lack of high-speed broadband.  You can check your area’s Internet providers by zip code to determine the Internet speeds that are available in your area.

Like thousands of other vacation renters, Joe Mangiaracina found it harder and harder to locate an Internet connection at his summer rental while on vacation in Ocean City, New Jersey.  “It used to be we could get a number of different connections by piggy backing off of our neighbors” Joe was quoted as saying in this week’s edition of the Ocean City Patch. “These days, though, finding a wireless connection is more and more difficult because of all the people who choose to encrypt their wireless routers.”  As a result of his frustration, Joe dreamed up SurfNet, a company that rents wireless routers to vacationers in Ocean City. Guests can pick up their router when they stop by the rental office to pick up their keys. Joe says the modems come with all of the necessary software, plug into the USB port of any computer or laptop, and offer high-speed broadband similar to what you receive from any of the best Internet providers.  Odds are pretty good you will be seeing similar businesses popping up in other resort locations.

According to a report in today’s online edition of Time Magazine, the United States Senate has rejected a GOP bid to overturn new federal rules designed to keep Internet service providers from unfairly discriminating against anyone sending content and services over their networks. Both the arguments and final vote followed party lines. Republicans maintained that net neutrality rules, announced by the FCC in December, are just another example of federal regulations that will stifle Internet investment and innovation. Democrats argued that repealing the rules would endanger freedom and openness on the Internet. In an official White House statement, President Obama said: “It is ill-advised to threaten the foundations of innovation within the Internet economy as well as the democratic spirit that’s made the Internet a force for strong social progress worldwide.” The final vote was 52-46

HomeMedia Magazine reports in today’s issue that consumers cannot get enough premium movies and sports, but are mixing paid video services such as Hulu and Netflix with their subscriptions to services such as Comcast, Verizon, AT&T Uverse, Dish Network and HughesNet satellite Internet.  25% of all cable & satellite subscribers also purchase programming from other sources. Nearly half pay for premium channels featuring movies or sports. Nearly one fourth purchase video on demand offerings from their cable or satellite providers.  As an interesting side note, of all of the major cable & satellite services, Comcast sold the most video on demand — followed by Verizon and Time-Warner cable.  The information found in the article was gathered from an online survey taken during the months of July & August.  Over 10,000 people responded.

When my wife and I first met it was in the 1970s. I was living in Brooklyn, New York and Carol was in Peoria, Illinois.  Even though we fell in love and decided to get married, we both had a year to finish at our respective schools.  For the next 14 months, or so, we carried on what is commonly referred to as a “long-term relationship.”  Back then that meant writing letters and making very expensive long distance phone calls.  I would call Carol every Sunday night from a pay phone in my dorm and we would talk for about an hour. The cost was about $25.00 a week — back then!  How different things would have been if we would have had the worldwide web and Internet service providers. We could have been in constant contact via email, instant messaging and Skype — and it wouldn’t have cost a penny.  I think couples in long distance relationships have it much easier today. The only thing I feel bad about is that they will probably never know the joy of receiving a letter from the person they are in love with.

From dangerous hurricanes to devastating earthquakes, the area surrounding the nation’s capital has recently been reminded of the fact that disasters can happen virtually without notice. AT&T has just completed a study which indicates that approximately 89% of local companies have a plan to aid them in maintaining operations if, and when, a disaster strikes. Recognizing the need to prepare ahead of time for a crisis, AT&T is undergoing a Network Disaster Recovery simulation in Maryland during the October 13 through 19. These exercises, held many times each year, recreate the loss of a full network office and therefore refine, test and strengthen the company’s disaster recovery & business continuity services in an effort to minimize network downtime. “More than ever before, communities must to be ready for natural or manmade disasters, and have effective plans in place to respond,” said the president of AT&T Mid-Atlantic Division, Michael Schweder. “These types of exercises will ensure that AT&T Internet service is prepared for a disaster.  We hope the organizations and businesses in the D.C. metropolitan area also continue to realize the importance of investing in crisis preparation.”

According to a report posted earlier this week on Daily Finance, an AOL money and finance site, when CenturyLink merged with Qwest Internet in April, there was an immediate drop in broadband subscribers.  According to CenturyLink‘s CFO, Stewart Ewing, the drop was related to a number of special-priced promotional packages Qwest had offered its DSL users.  Today CenturyLink is actively going after broadband-only customers at the end of promotional cycles by offering additional product bundles.  Included among the products being offered is wireless service — utilizing their new relationship with Verizon.  Also being offered, in those markets where it is available, is Prism IPTV.  It’s interesting to note that CenturyLink‘s new RBOC partners, Verizon  and AT&T, have both seen gains in both broadband and video — a trend that will no doubt be reported in their earnings reports which are due out later this month for both companies.

More and more people are using the Internet to learn how to speak a foreign language. And, if you think about it, it really makes sense. Online language programs can flash pictures while simultaneously voicing the word that describes the image.  That is something no high school Spanish book or French book is able to do.  In addition, learning online lets you hear correct pronunciation, move along at your own pace, and repeat things as many times as necessary.  Also, most online language courses are much less expensive than the language schools that mail out huge volumes of audio files and/or DVDs.  Of course, to benefit from an online language program, you must have a high speed Internet connection.  Don’t worry, however, if your connection is a bit slow.  Just do a simple online search for the best Internet providers in your area — and include your zip code. You will quickly find a company that can upgrade your connection and have you learning a new language online in no time!

The Veterans Administration wants to use the Internet as well as social media to end its  reputation as antiquated, overwhelmed and obstructionist, says an article in today’s edition of the Washington Post.  Accordingly they have hired Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, an Army Veteran, to produce a 4-minute video designed for VA employees.  Officials of the Veterans Administration hope the video will be a reminder to employees to provide excellent service to vets.  The film is designed to show employees exactly what the VA system looks like to the veterans just returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq:  usually daunting, time-consuming and confusing.

The VA has also hired Alex Horton, creator of the blog  named Army of Dude. Horton’s job will be the VA’s official blogger and he has been commissioned to continue pointing out the department’s shortfalls. While Horton has ruffled some feathers in Washington, his new blog, VAntage Point, is read widely by both VA vets and staffers. Still another new way the Internet is helping people.

There are several good reasons why HughesNet Satellite Internet is the #1 provider of satellite Internet in the USA today. Here are just a few:  It is available to everyone, no matter where they live in the U.S.  The connection is so fast you can flip through web pages just like you turn the pages of a book!  It works with both Windows-based and Mac systems.  Dial-up is never necessary, so your phone is always free and never tied up with the Internet. Installation is done right by a HughesNet installer, the secure network is constantly monitored and expert customer service is available from friendly agents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! HughesNet is provides satellite Internet to over 100 countries, so you know they have the expertise to back up their service — after all Hughes has been a major provider for more than thirty years!

It used to be that buying a car was something everyone dreaded.  Of course we all liked the idea of having a new car — but shopping for it was akin to getting a root canal.  Pushy salesman, game-playing over price with the sales manager, deals being changed at the last minute — it was a nightmare.  Today, however, you can buy a car right on line.  Most dealerships have their entire inventory on their website. Most even have Internet managers to work with you who are NOT commissioned sales people. Just find the car you want, negotiate a price by email and never even talk to a sales person!  If you are purchasing a new car, you can contact several dealerships in a single afternoon! And without having to pay a huge sales commission, the dealerships can give you much better prices.  Of course, if your Internet connection is not up to speed, you may have a problem.  There are, however, many Internet service providers in your city that will help you to bring it up to date.

There was an article published last week in the Manchester Guardian, a major English newspaper, about the use of the Internet in treating patients in hospitals. According to the article, about 80% of the British population now has access to high-speed broadband at work, in their home, or both.  Even so, it is still difficult to find working examples of telemedicine, Internet-enabled health care, in Great Britain.  While face-to-face medical doctor visits remain important, telemedicine has the potential to form the backbone for the way health services will be accessed in the future. The reason is simple: Many specialties have only a single unit to cover an entire region.

As an example, the Royal Hospital for Children in Bristol began using a telemedicine system last month to do remote fetal and pediatric consultations on patients at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. If patients in either of these hospitals were required to see their specialists face-to-face in Bristol, it would require a six hour trip. On the other hand, according to Doctor Andy Tometzki, the lead consultant in pediatric and fetal cardiology in Bristol, the use of telecardiology provides high definition images on both ends of the broadband link. The interaction is done in real time and is quite natural and simple for both doctor and patient.”

An alliance in Northern Florida, called the Florida Rural Broadband Alliance is promising to bring high-speed Internet to an eight county area in Northern Florida.  The alliance is made up from two not for profit business advocacy groups.  Its aim is to create more jobs, improve health care, and improve the business climate in the region. “This will allow businesses to have a faster and more reliable Internet connection, which is particularly important in today’s global economy”, said Rick Martin, the executive director of the FRBA. “When compled with Internet phone call providers, this new high-speed Internet will make doing business overseas much simpler.”  Currently the area relies mostly on DSL. Those living in the area can look up their local DSL providers by zip code to see if this new service will be available to them.

Were you aware that the Internet is being used to get staff community outreach?  Many churches are now using Internet programs to reach people who would like to volunteer to help others in need.  One minister in Texas has actually developed software that will help pastors who are striving to match volunteers to services that are needed in the community. The program can be used on church websites to help members learn about others with needs.  He said that since he has started using the program that it has been very effective in mobilizing church members to recognize that their are sick are elderly in their congregation that need assistance. He mentioned that many in his congregation had just signed up for ATT Uverse, a high-speed Internet service that was recently introduced in the area, and that this has put more congregation members online, which has also been helfpul.