AT&T installs U-verse service
AT&T is installing service cabinets that will allow them to deliver high-speed digital television, phone and Internet services across the Island. An AT&T rep said installation of the cabinets, which would deliver the company’s U-verse service via fiber optic cable, has begun in earnest and will continue into 2011.
The company’s new service would compete with existing cable, phone and Internet providers in Alameda.
“We want to be out there competing with cable as fast as we can,” AT&T spokesman Gordon Diamond said.
State regulators granted the company license to install the cabinets across California, and AT&T struck a deal with the city to set up service in October 2008. The company will set up 80 of cabinets Island-wide, Diamond said, and the plan is to set them up next to existing cabinets for AT&T’s other services. Diamond said the company has pulled city permits to set up 15 of the cabinets. Each cabinet can serve 300 to 500 nearby homes.
Residents and business owners who are within 300 feet where the cabinets are being installed will receive letters from AT&T detailing the work to take place and containing a photo of what the cabinet will look like. The letters contain a phone number people can call if they have questions about or problems with the placement of a cabinet.
The company has the legal right to place the cabinets in the public right-of-way – on sidewalks, for example – but its deal with the city says they have to try to come to an agreement with neighbors over the placement of a cabinet if there’s a dispute. If the neighbors and the company can’t resolve the placement of a cabinet, the city could deny AT&T a permit to place it there.
Diamond said the company has gotten complaints on a handful of the cabinets.
The staff report laying out the city’s deal with AT&T – and a map of where the company’s existing cabinets are – is here.
I have comcast would love to hear from someone who has the u verse service and if they like it.
Wow, these “cabinets” are huge!
http://www.blogcdn.com/hd.engadget.com/media/2008/09/9-21-08-u-verse-cabinet-ws-.jpg
The dimensions at 48 inches high by 48 inches long by 20 inches deep.
How many of these cabinets are going to be installed?
My parents have u-verse and it is awesome. Amazing amount of channels, clear phones and wireless is consistent. It is also a better deal.
I don’t care how big they are, they can put one in my front yard if they want.
Anything! so I don’t have to put up with Comcast anymore.
As an alternative, you might try nominating Alameda for Google’s trial of 1Gb/s fiber to the home. Go here http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options and click “Nominate Your Community”.
Google’s 1Gb/s fiber to the home is a joke. Google will never be a successful internet provider. Google is good with what they do now “SEARCH ENGINE”. REMEBER their nexus one???? It was a disaster. My recommendation to Google is to stay with something that you don’t know how to operate it.
Correction:
It was a disaster. My recommendation to Google is to stay AWAY with something that you don’t know how to operate it.
@Omar: Interesting that you’re calling a service they have yet to roll out a “joke” — I’m guessing you work for a competitor for such vitriol.
I like competition… we could go from one, really crappy service (ComCast) for way too much money, to THREE options. Huzzah to the free market!