RCN vs Comcast

[mrwrench.livejournal.com]

Hi all. Long-time listener, first-time caller.

I am moving to Davis Sq next month and am in the process of setting up my utilities.

Wondering if anyone has any insight into RCN vs Comcast for phone/cable/internet.

I saw some scattered posts on this topic in the archive, but none too recently.

Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

RCN NOW Sucks!

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

For the past decade I've been a huge RCN proponent. But no more. Had you asked six weeks ago I would still have been "ra ra RCN". But no more.

RCN is encrypting all their station. No clear QAM. Even the local broadcast HD stations are encrypted.

RCN is also dropping Analog support, sometime between July and February.

Both of these actions combined means that you MUST have a cable box. Period. Get ready to pay $12/mo for each HD tuner you want.

Their Internet service is still okay, but my cablemodem, which has been solid for the past couple years has been having lots of outages over the last week or two.

I wish Verizon would bring in FIOS. :-/

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[elements.livejournal.com]

Verizon wants to bring in FIOS, but only if they only have to wire the well-off areas of Somerville. Since that's against our laws (and for good reason) Somerville won't give them a waiver. Of course with the speed of gentrification you'd think they'd realize even our poorer areas are still candidates for interest in another option.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Have they really been so brazenly open about their intentions here? I know they've kind of been doing that covertly across the country all along, but I had no idea they'd actually made it their stated intention.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[jovianconsensus.livejournal.com]

No, Verizon has always denied that, although the cable companies accuse them of it every time it comes up. Verizon says the problem is that the process takes too long and has to be started again with each municipality. They'd prefer one set of rules at the state or federal level.

Here's an old NPR story about it. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5632648) The bill died in Congress, although I believe similar bills have passed in some states (not Massachusetts).

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

There was an NPR where Vz claimed that Somerville didn't want Fios, but Mayor Curtatone was on too and publically asked Vz to come to the table to talk to the city, and that yes, indeed, Somerville was interested.

Personally, I think that Vz just doesn't want to HAVE to negotiate with each municipality because they lose their bargaining power.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[ron_newman]

what's a QAM?

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[wombatbanana.livejournal.com]

QAM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAM_tuner) is the standard, unencrypted way of transmitting digital TV signals. Normally you can get at least the local broadcast stations in HD without a cable box (if your TV supports QAM), in the same way that many cable stations are available without a cable box (if your TV is cable-ready.)

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

QAM == Quad Amplitude Modulation. It's the way cable companies send digital cable over the wire. "Clear QAM" means that a digital-capable TV (read: any HD TV created in a past couple years) can tune the channels directly. But if it's encrypted, it requires a cable box.

Until recently RCN had all their basic cable (and HD) unencrypted.

That changed.. So now there's practically no digital content available in the clear.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[ron_newman]

I'm surprised the FCC would allow encrypting broadcast channels.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

Me too.
The SD (Standard Def) broadcasts are not encrypted, but the local HDs are definitely being encrypted. I don't know what the FCC says about that.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[inkarn8.livejournal.com]

I think because they own their own cable line the FCC rules don't apply in the same way as stations being broadcasted through the public airwaves.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

Well, the FCC DOES require cable companies to carry local broadcast stations.

I just dont know what it says about encrypting them.

Re: RCN NOW Sucks!

[aki.livejournal.com]

ALSO: On Broadway near Powderhouse, we had a dreadful time with RCN failing to install cable two or three times. Finally, we canceled, had to fight not to pay for their failed installation, and switched to Comcast.