Centurytel DSL (yes, again)

I sent an email from the Centurytel site asking if we would EVER get DSL in our area, and why can't they just put a "repeater" in to extend the reach beyond 18,000 feet, that only cost $500-$700 each?

Their response: "Unfortunately, our Engineer was not aware of any repeater device that would extend the range to the 24,000+ feet."

My reply: "What about the "GoLong" technology??

Their 2nd response: "Unfortunately, our Engineers have advised this is not an available option.  As the article that you have referenced states, the equipment is being trialed.  This company did not even plan to put this equipment into production until the 2nd quarter of the year, which is the quarter we are currently in.  That does not make it available to the consumer as of right now.

After you surpass that distance, your DSL still works, but your dial tone starts to degrade. We cannot offer service of this type and there are regulations against it. Until we can implement a technology to "boost" DSL distribution to further lengths, we have no choice but to deny the service to you. We want to provide you with a quality service, not a service that wouldn't work to one's expectations, or even exceed them.

I apologize.

My response to this: Um, the article I linked to was *2001*. Are you saying that there's been *no* advances in technology for over 6 years? In fact, Symmeticom DID release it *successfully* in 2001. I think that Centurytel ISN'T interested in getting rural customers hooked-up but they seemingly don't understand that telecommuting, and other Internet-based home businesses COULD help poor rural people get an education via high-speed that could get them OUT of the country setting if they desired. As always, it's all about the "bottom line", not about customer service!"

2001!
Symmeticom-San Jose, California Symmetricom's GoLong product family extends the distance of broadband over copper enabling universal DSL. Telephone companies currently deploy GoLong repeaters to extending high-speed access to residential and businesses.
GoLong SHDSL (G.shdsl) can be deployed every 10,000 feet (almost 2 miles), extending G.shdsl full rate service - 2.3 Mbps in each direction - to almost six miles using two repeaters on standard 26 gauge telephone cables, and even farther with additional repeaters. http://www.gattigroup.com/experience.htm
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2001!
http://tinyurl.com/ynqlya
The GoLong DSL loop extender consists of a repeater, which is installed on the copper loop midway between the customer and the CO, and a CO card that powers and administers it. Once GoLong is installed, the copper loop becomes a data-only line.
Chester started a trial in December [2001], when Starnes installed a GoLong DSL repeater midspan on a 24,000-foot local loop. With the repeater, Chester was able to deliver 3.072 Mbit/s downstream and 406 kbit/s upstream. Another rural provider, Berkshire Telephone Corp. (Kinderhook, N.Y.), installed a GoLong repeater midspan in a 25,000-foot loop, resulting in 2.648 Mbit/s downstream and 382 kbit/s upstream.
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Symmetricom Expands the Reach of Business Broadband Through Industry's First G.shdsl Loop Extender Newest GoLongT Family Member Enables Delivery of Access Speeds from 2.3-15 Mbps For Businesses Up to Six Miles From Telephone Company Central Office
SAN JOSE, Calif.-October 22, 2001- Symmetricom®, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYMM ), today announced the availability of its GoLongT G.shdsl loop extender, significantly extending the reach of business-class DSL access services for growing companies. Symmetricom's G.shdsl extender is an industry first, designed to work with the new international broadband standard G.shdsl, which allows 2.3 Megabits-per-second (Mbps) of voice or data to be delivered easier and faster than legacy services like T1 or E1. As a result, global service providers may offer expanded broadband speeds and integrated voice and data services to corporate customers up to six miles from a telephone company central office.

In closing (for now): So you see, the technology IS there and IS available, it's just that MOST telcos, especially the larger ones, aren't REALLY interested in keeping rural communities up-to-date with technology, but only to make their CEO's even richer. Everything I've read says that whenever a phone company (usually the local mini-telcos) offer DSL to rural customers, every slot fills up almost immediately, making it obvious that the interest and willingness to pay IS there. I guess the problem is as usual "why should (the city people) subsidize the rural people with what taxes we pay?", not understanding that we COULD say, "Well then, why should we continue to subsidize your supermarkets with meat and vegetables from our farms? Unless you believe all the stuff just appears from in back of the store?" Besides, it's not like we don't pay taxes like everyone else! HEAVY SIGH!

Tags: DSL, Centurytel, Engineers, telco, telcos, telecommunication, repeater, repeaters, Symmetricon, country, rural, G.shdsl, extender