From the monthly archives:

December 2009

Thumbnail image for Time Warner Cable and Fox Face-Off: Are Consumers the Real Losers?

Time Warner Cable and Fox Face-Off: Are Consumers the Real Losers?

December 30, 2009

It appears that a conflict is brewing between News Corp., which owns the various Fox networks, and Time Warner Cable.  The spat appears to be center around an issue of billing, and the result may be countless thousands of Time Warner Cable customers unable to access News Corp. content if an agreement cannot be reached [...]

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How to Switch High Speed Internet Providers

December 29, 2009

It is only a matter of time before consumers realize that their current broadband plan may not be all that they had hoped for, and start looking for something better.  While 2 Mbps download speeds might have been top of the line performance a few short years ago, competition has raised the bar a great [...]

Thumbnail image for Money For Fiber: What Does It Mean For Consumers?

Money For Fiber: What Does It Mean For Consumers?

December 28, 2009

There has been a lot of talk about the various money for fiber incentives being offered and discussed by various state governments and of course, the federal government.  The real question is: what does money for fiber mean to consumers?  Answering this question has been very difficult, especially given the hyperbolic tendencies of many news [...]

Thumbnail image for Comcast Settles P2P Throttling Suit: Everybody Loses

Comcast Settles P2P Throttling Suit: Everybody Loses

December 26, 2009

Comcast has officially settled one of the active class action law suits brought against them regarding data discrimination.  The result is that current and/or former Comcast customers in the United States that have, or used one of Comcast’s broadband data services may be eligible for a $16 payout.  Comcast has allocated a total of $16 [...]

Thumbnail image for The Basics of DSL

The Basics of DSL

December 24, 2009

DSL is the commonly used acronym for digital subscriber line, but there are many different DSL technologies on the market.  Most forms of DSL are referred to as xDSL, where the letter x is replaced by another letter that is part of a larger acronym that describes that particular form of DSL.  For example, ADSL [...]

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Understanding Fiber Optic Networks

December 22, 2009

Data has traditionally traveled across wires comprised of metal, even before the dawn of the digital age.  In fact, the use of flexible metal wires for data transmission dates back to at least the early 1800s, which certainly makes one wonder why they have not been replaced by newer technologies.  Of course, modern wires bear [...]

Thumbnail image for Wireless Technology Royal Rumble: 3G vs 4G vs WiMAX3G

Wireless Technology Royal Rumble: 3G vs 4G vs WiMAX3G

December 21, 2009

There are many different wireless broadband technologies currently in use as well as poised for deployment in the near future.  The big question is: which of these technologies is the best for any given consumer?  The answer depends a lot on the needs of any particular consumer, but taking a look at the top three [...]

Thumbnail image for Verizon Offers FiOS Customers Upgraded News Widget

Verizon Offers FiOS Customers Upgraded News Widget

December 20, 2009

Verizon has added yet another useful widget to their FiOS digital television service, which further blurs the line between data/Internet and traditional news broadcasting.  The new widget is referred to officially as the Associated Press widget, and it serves as a replacement for the company’s outgoing Headline News widget.   As with all Verizon FiOS widgets, [...]

Thumbnail image for What is AT&T U-Verse?

What is AT&T U-Verse?

December 19, 2009

AT&T U-verse is a suite of services and products that primarily consist of internet, television and phone services. These services are delivered using highly advanced fiber-to-the-node and fiber-to-the-premises technologies. Unlike traditional TV systems, U-Verse is a service based entirely on IP or Internet Protocol. The utilization of IP enables video to be split in a [...]

Thumbnail image for Verizon FiOS 10Gbps Backbone in the Near Future?

Verizon FiOS 10Gbps Backbone in the Near Future?

December 19, 2009

There is no doubt that Verizon’s FiOS fiber optic network is already delivering amazing data speeds to customers, but Verizon is looking to take its high-tech fiber optic network to the next level by confirming that they will be the first carrier to test out a new fiber optic system called XG-PON. While the name [...]

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