I was just out and about searching for prices for t1's, FiOS and the like for a client of mine that's looking to move his data center but wants a cost effective bandwidth pipe. Currently he has a T1 circuit from AT&T in Hendersonville. While I understand that mainly you are paying the circuit cost just for having the ability to have a T1 and then you pay for the actual bandwidth on top of the circuit fee. His Monthly bill is $650 for a T1 (1.544mBit up and down). Now, correct me if i'm wrong but 1.544 mBit translates into 170kBps download and upload speeds. This seems slow by today's standards.

Ok, Fast forward, I got a quote on a FiOS line in New Hampshire. The sales rep stated that the bandwidth and circuit costs for a 30mBit up and down would run $233/month with 16 static IP's. Holy shit. Are you for real? Why does Comcast have to be such assholes and dominate the Tennessee area and won't let Verizon or AT&T setup shop here? To me that sounds like a monopoly, and if this is true, Comcast is operating in the state of Tennessee Illegally according to Federal standards. I thought Tennessee was part of the "Union". Ok, now I know that AT&T is not the best thing to roll through here but if AT&T wins their case against Comcast, that means that the door will be wide open for other technologies to roll through here. Just like it used to be (i.e. ISDN). I for one welcome the AT&T lawsuit and hope that they win against Comcast because this will mean that Comcast will have to be more competitive to keep up with a 30mBit pipe to a residential house.