 |
 | forrestin
Premium
join:2004-02-07
Clinton, IN | Re: I want 100/100 I'll take ten of those boxes if it means that I can get away from dialup. I'm tired of people complaining about how things look. If only AT&T cared enough to go into the rural areas of the country and install service. | |
|
| | 
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Optimum Online
| Re: I want 100/100 said by forrestin  :I'll take ten of those boxes if it means that I can get away from dialup. I'm tired of people complaining about how things look. If only AT&T cared enough to go into the rural areas of the country and install service. There are ways to deploy broadband solutions without ruining property values and how a neighborhood looks. Broadband is nice, but when the property value drops a couple thousand dollars, it ain't frigging worth it!! All so a company can make a shitload of money off YOUR loss.
-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | | 
NickD
Premium
join:2000-11-17
Princeton Junction, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast
| Re: I want 100/100 100/100 would cost much more per year than the reduction in your property value if the box weren't there. If I were searching for a home, and someone told me the box in front of the house was for FiOS, I would be more inclined to buy that house because it has FiOS available. | |
|
| | | |
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online
| Re: I want 100/100 said by NickD :100/100 would cost much more per year than the reduction in your property value if the box weren't there. If I were searching for a home, and someone told me the box in front of the house was for FiOS, I would be more inclined to buy that house because it has FiOS available. Well lets break down your argument...
First, no "normal" person is going to purchase 100/100 internet... More than likely, they'd have to pay tens of thousands of dollars for that type of connection... So that point is null and void. Second, if you're purchasing a home with a box already in front, you're not LOSING money, since you're not SELLING the home. You're SAVING money. Hell, you can USE it as a method to knock down the price a little if you want... If I had to choose between two comparable homes, and one had FIOS... I'd probably go with the home with FIOS if no other viable option was at the other location or FIOS wasn't going to be available shortly... I love FIOS, but it only makes good business sense to TRY to be considerate and not have the "big corporation" mentality when doing business in peoples neighborhoods.
-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | | forrestin
Premium
join:2004-02-07
Clinton, IN
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| I find it hard to believe that property values are dropping thousands of dollars because of the boxes. If you don't want the boxes in your yard then don't move where the utilities have Right of Way access.
Sounds like a case of the rich want to B**h. They should be glad that they have services. If I were AT&T I would yank DSL and other new services and give them dialup. | |
|
| | | | 
insomniac84
join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN
| Re: I want 100/100 I would think that in any neighborhood the utilities should be hiding the equipment in the backyards. You shouldn't be dropping large equipment in people's front yards. In my neighborhood everything is in the back of people's yards. No one complains. The telcos are stupid in this case. Even if they didn't have easement access in the back, there is no point in not asking a homeowner to give them an easement to prevent having a huge box in their front yard. Most would easily agree to the deal. | |
|
| | | |
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online
| said by forrestin :I find it hard to believe that property values are dropping thousands of dollars because of the boxes. If you don't want the boxes in your yard then don't move where the utilities have Right of Way access. Sounds like a case of the rich want to B**h. They should be glad that they have services. If I were AT&T I would yank DSL and other new services and give them dialup. Who knows... It is relative... But from the article, it appears they put up a big ugly retaining wall... That is DEFINITELY going to lower property prices.. This is one of the reasons why it is often against local ordinances to have an unkept frontyard or rundown home... It makes the surrounding properties lower in value.
-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | | |
| | | | EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA
| Re: I want 100/100 Correct me if I'm wrong, but the boxes are just for U-Verse... so the situation is more like A) Dial-up B) Existing DSL for up to 6Mbps/768kbps (I think this is the fastest at&t DSL speed, not sure) or maybe Cable or C) Big Box in yard for up to 10Mbps/1Mbps, which is kind of a different situation... | |
|
| | | | | skrupowies
join:2002-08-22
Wallingford, CT
clubs:
·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: I want 100/100 said by EPS :Correct me if I'm wrong, but the boxes are just for U-Verse...
You're wrong. The VRAD's provide both U-verse and high speed internet. If you were a DSL customer prior to U-verse (either from the CO directly or from some electronics) your line gets shifted to the VRAD for internet. In general your actual service improves some because the overhead is less (practically nonexistent) for VRAD based internet as compared to ADSL with PPPOE. | |
|
| | | |
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online
| said by benc :Huh? It's completely worth it. I would be far, far less inclined to buy a property if the best I could get (without modifications) was either satellite or dial-up Internet. I remember how slow dial-up is. Sometimes I still know, because of my back-up dial-up connection. Go back to dial-up or even ISDN as my primary connection? No way! I don't want to wait days just to download the latest service pack. That and I sure do love running servers. So let's see, the choices are: A) Use dial-up. To download the latest Fedora Core 8 DVD image (which is 3.18GB) would take close to a week, if you run the dial-up 24/7. OR B) Live with a large box nearby, but download the same DVD image in less than 18 minutes (assuming 25Mbps download). Wow...what a tough decision. And you're reducing it to an extreme case.... Most places NOW have access to multiple forms of broadband... And MOST people don't think having an EYESORE in their front yard is worth it when it would make MORE business sense to have it placed somewhere more discreet... Legally, they have every right to place it there, and broadband DOES increase property values for people who WANT broadband, but a big box REALLY does hurt property values when it is sitting, rusted and not maintained 10 years later when you're trying to sell your home..
-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | | | 
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| said by benc :So let's see, the choices are: A) Use dial-up. To download the latest Fedora Core 8 DVD image (which is 3.18GB) would take close to a week, if you run the dial-up 24/7. OR B) Live with a large box nearby, but download the same DVD image in less than 18 minutes (assuming 25Mbps download). The boxes provide TV service, not broadband internet.
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://bbs.iscabbs.com
Professional Geographer
Geographic Information Science researcher | |
|
| | | | | 
a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY | Re: I want 100/100 read the article again. It states that AT&T's boxes provide TV and internet service. | |
|
| mglunt
join:2001-09-10
Fredericksburg, VA
·Verizon FIOS
 ·VoicePulse
| said by PhoenixDown :but I'd be pretty upset too if a company dumped 2 refrigerator sized boxes in the middle of my front yard... I would be too. If there is a way to hide the box, but the company wants to save the money that would cost, I'd be pissed. I take pride in how my property looks.. I don't need a 5-6 foot tall metal cabinet out front. Thankfully, FIOS runs everything underground (at least where I am). The only thing I see in my back yard is a 3'x2' (or so) lid on a buried box. ...and the lid is green so it blends in with the grass. | |
|
Riplin
join:2002-05-13
canada | who cares what they look like TBH if they offered me 100mbit to my house for a reasonable rate I could care less what they look like. | |
|
| 
danclan
join:2005-11-01
Midlothian, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: who cares what they look like no but the next guy moving in your house might not...and thus might not buy your house because of it...yes folks....people DO care about the number of utility boxes on a property.
At least with verizon most are buried or flat and with lay of the land and not giant sized boxes vertical out of the ground. | |
|
| 
yock
Eschew the False Dichotomy
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| said by Riplin :TBH if they offered me 100mbit to my house for a reasonable rate I could care less what they look like. I take it you aren't a homeowner. | |
|
| | Riplin
join:2002-05-13
canada | Re: who cares what they look like Yes I am an owner and I would take one of those boxes but like I said it would have to benefit me. | |
|
| | |
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online
| Re: who cares what they look like said by Riplin :Yes I am an owner and I would take one of those boxes but like I said it would have to benefit me. People on this site are generally geeks... But I'm also a geek that likes companies to FOLLOW the law and not place THEIR equipment illegally on my property and also for them to take all steps necessary not to LOWER my property value!!!
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | | | jester121
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL
·ViaTalk
| Re: who cares what they look like So geek on over to a real estate law site and read up on utility easements. These companies aren't breaking the law; homeowners are generally idiots and don't realize what is and is not allowed according to zoning, easement, and other local regulations.
The homeowners in question should have armed themselves with knowledge of what easements existed on their property when they purchased it. | |
|
| | | | |
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| Re: who cares what they look like said by jester121 :So geek on over to a real estate law site and read up on utility easements. These companies aren't breaking the law; homeowners are generally idiots and don't realize what is and is not allowed according to zoning, easement, and other local regulations. RTA.
They placed the box outside the easement. | |
|
| | | | 
fiber_man
Things Happen For A Reason
Premium
join:2001-01-27
Port Saint Lucie, FL
| I hope for your sake your property has no utility easements on it. Most around here have at least one on it if not more. I found out that my property has a 20 foot easement off the back property line for maintenance of a drainage ditch. The city has a 25' ROW on the front which is where the poles are placed. I have no say what so ever about the ROW. If you want services from power,gas,water,telephone, and cable then they have to have permission from you or the developer for easements on your property. I have seen so many people buy houses in a new development without driving to see the lot and/or look at the site plans. Then they bitch and moan about a power transformer and/or a telephone or cable box that is placed in the yard. When the developers force all the utilities in a 10' easement there is not much the utilities can do.
--
GO NOLES!! | |
|
| | | | |
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online
| Re: who cares what they look like said by fiber_man :I hope for your sake your property has no utility easements on it. Most around here have at least one on it if not more. I found out that my property has a 20 foot easement off the back property line for maintenance of a drainage ditch. The city has a 25' ROW on the front which is where the poles are placed. I have no say what so ever about the ROW. If you want services from power,gas,water,telephone, and cable then they have to have permission from you or the developer for easements on your property. I have seen so many people buy houses in a new development without driving to see the lot and/or look at the site plans. Then they bitch and moan about a power transformer and/or a telephone or cable box that is placed in the yard. When the developers force all the utilities in a 10' easement there is not much the utilities can do. I'm not arguing that they don't have a right to place that box there... But they should be more considerate if they want to do business in people's neighborhoods and expect them to fork over their hard earned cash.
-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | | | | |
fiber_man
Things Happen For A Reason
Premium
join:2001-01-27
Port Saint Lucie, FL
| Re: who cares what they look like Again it is not always up to the homeowner. The utilities have to deal with the cities,counties, and sometime even the state on where these cabinets,transformers are placed. Down here people wanted the power companies to place all of the overhead lines in the ground [because of hurricanes] not realizing that transformers had to go somewhere. Guess what?
All of the utilities have to come down if they want the poles out. That means a lot of digging and placement of cabinets,pedestals,ect.. Several cities are also paying for part of the cost to bring down the lines. I agree it looks nicer that all of the overhead lines but people have to accept the fact that this things are placed to provide services to them.
The engineers around here are using the 50' easements along the drainage ditches to place most of the cabinets but I know of several that are in people's back or side yard. They have moved several X-boxes out of some front yards to the cabinets in easements. People have to deal with a mess for a little while but it looks better in the end.
--
GO NOLES!! | |
|
| | | | | | |
Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online
| Re: who cares what they look like said by fiber_man :Again it is not always up to the homeowner. The utilities have to deal with the cities,counties, and sometime even the state on where these cabinets,transformers are placed. Down here people wanted the power companies to place all of the overhead lines in the ground [because of hurricanes] not realizing that transformers had to go somewhere. Guess what? All of the utilities have to come down if they want the poles out. That means a lot of digging and placement of cabinets,pedestals,ect.. Several cities are also paying for part of the cost to bring down the lines. I agree it looks nicer that all of the overhead lines but people have to accept the fact that this things are placed to provide services to them. The engineers around here are using the 50' easements along the drainage ditches to place most of the cabinets but I know of several that are in people's back or side yard. They have moved several X-boxes out of some front yards to the cabinets in easements. People have to deal with a mess for a little while but it looks better in the end. Yea, well I'm not arguing about their legal right of way and the fact that from an engineering perspective, the boxes NEED to be somewhere... I am just saying that people shouldn't always be so quick to defend companies... Oftentimes, when installing service to millions of people, they just place those boxes wherever the plant engineers tell them to place them, with no consideration to aesthetics.. If they spent a LITTLE time on aesthetics, both parties would probably be much happier... People DO have a RIGHT IMHO to expect to have a nice looking neighborhood. It isn't a LEGAL right, but it is something to be expected. Property taxes in my town are around $7-15,000/year, thank God the town tries to keep this place from looking like your typical dirty Jersey town..
-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html
| |
|
| | 
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| said by yock :said by Riplin :TBH if they offered me 100mbit to my house for a reasonable rate I could care less what they look like. I take it you aren't a homeowner. I'm a homeowner and wouldn't mind having fios equipment in my front yard. no HOA here 
--
You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
|
| 
burgermeister
All Computers Are Junk
join:2000-10-23
Utica, MI
| Most homeowners care more about how their house looks than how fast their broadband is. I for one would choose to keep my current 6 meg speed if 100 meg for the same price had a company putting some nasty looking boxes in my yard.
--
"I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." | |
|
|
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| said by Riplin :TBH if they offered me 100mbit to my house for a reasonable rate I could care less what they look like. What if they were offering you 400 channels of television instead? That's what those boxes provide, not internet. | |
|
| |
a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY | Re: who cares what they look like ehh, no way jose. The boxes are known as VRADS, and its common knowledge on this site that AT&T's VRADS provide VDSL service which is split among TV and teh interwebs. | |
|
N3OGH
Will it all be Obama's fault now?
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| WAAAAAA WAAAAA
People whine too much......
I would let them put that on the front of my lawn if they wanted to. Especially if it gave me an alternative to ComCrap.
Then again, I have a buried petroleum pipeline that sits in a trench less that 40 feet where I've laid my head for the past 31 years, so maybe I'm a little conditioned to the whole thing 
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
|
| hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH | Re: WAAAAAA the thing though is; even if that box is sitting in front of your house. it doesnt mean you'll be serviced. Remember AT&T is redlining their service areas. | |
|
yock
Eschew the False Dichotomy
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| I'd like to propose a solution To those of you who say you don't mind a metal box the size of a small trailer in your front yard, I say volunteer. Take the burden from those of us who refuse such eyesores and volunteer your property for right-of-way. That way the people who are concerned with their property value are unaffected and we all get our high-speed broadband.
--
Laughter is the closest distance between two people. --Victor Borge
Lynch All Liars | |
|
|
See 7 replies to this post |
|
Bobcat
Volvo sucks
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Bedminster, NJ | Utility easement What part of "utility easement" don't these folks understand? They should have looked at the deed before they bought the property. | |
|
|
See 31 replies to this post |
|
|
nokiatech
join:2000-10-18
Stuart, FL | Come to my house. They can drop one here if they like providing I get free service as long as the box is there....
Too bad I live in a condo  | |
|
| 
cbrigante2
Cubs 20??
Premium
join:2002-11-22
North Aurora, IL
| Re: Come to my house. said by nokiatech :They can drop one here if they like providing I get free service as long as the box is there.... Too bad I live in a condo I've said it before, they'll put one wherever they need to and give you the same price they give everyone else. How does that deal sound now? | |
|
nevtxjustin
join:2006-04-18
Dallas, TX | One word... SHURBERY | |
|
| dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio | Re: One other word... said by nevtxjustin :SHURBERY Dictionary. | |
|
| 
MrMoody
Liberal Capitalist
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Re: One word... We demand a ... SHRUBBERY! (cue dramatic music)
--
The public is a poor business manager. | |
|
| |
burgermeister
All Computers Are Junk
join:2000-10-23
Utica, MI | Re: One word... Actually, the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch would take care of that at&t box nicely!
--
"I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." | |
|
GlenQuagmire
Giggidy Giggidy Giggidy Goo
Premium
join:2004-02-16
Grand Rapids, MI | Broken Sewer I am fine with Comcast and ATT installing new fiber as long as it does not cause shit to backup into my basement.
--
Yes, its stuck in a windows this time. | |
|
Test99
Premium
join:2003-04-24
San Jose, CA
·DSL EXTREME
·InPhonex
| Humor We consumers are a fussy bunch when it comes to broadband, wanting the fastest possible speeds with out hurling shrapnel, exploding garages, smoke inhalation or ruined landscaping if possible. Karl, I like your humor! 
--
50775@fwd.pulver.com | |
|
GemSnake
Premium
join:2000-10-19
3rd layer
clubs: | Somebody, punch her! What a selfish bitch! 400 people will benefit from it and she's raising hell. Burn her at the steak!!!
--
"In a fight between you and the world, bet on the world." - Franz Kafka | |
|
|
See 13 replies to this post |
|
michaelp95
Premium
join:2001-08-23
Tucson, AZ | ugly box = free service I'd take the ugly boxes, provided they gave me and any future owners of the property free service for life, very small price for them to pay for potential 300-400 customers who will pay. | |
|
| 
gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA
·Cruzio Internet
| Re: ugly box = free service They wont do that because it would create a precedent for others to want that as well. It's not like they have made enough money to cover the upgrades ... wait ... uhhh.
--
There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country. ~ Joseph Addison | |
|
|
| Austinloop
join:2001-08-19
Austin, TX
| Re: Do your homework Most of what you said is valid, except the federal government did not require that all utilities be buried. I can see at least one location from my house that has aerial power, catv, and telephone. However, all utilities are buried on the rear easement of my property.
Also, it depends on how the easement is written and negotiated, I have seen 12 x 24 buildings placed on a easement. | |
|
| |
ncbill
Premium
join:2007-01-23
Winston Salem, NC | Not the preferred implementation Another reason why FTTH is better.
No honkin' big boxes and ugly concrete retaining wall in some poor soul's front yard.
Big boxes on your *house*, sure, but only IF you choose the service. | |
|
dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio | False dichotomy Most respondents here have allowed the network providers to frame the argument - it's either high-speed broadband or no eyesores.
Why can't there be both?
Oh, someone might have lower profits. Nevermind. | |
|
|
gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA
·Cruzio Internet
| Re: False dichotomy They could bury the boxes and still provide adequate cooling, it would just cost more. Or they could leave them above ground and have artists design the boxes or alter existing boxes to be more attractive.
There would be a big difference between an ugly square box and a piece of art. Oh ya, that costs more money ...
--
There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country. ~ Joseph Addison | |
|
| | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY | Re: False dichotomy Burying is easy. Its called a CEV. Only problem is $$$$$$. Uverse is 99 cent store next gen broadband. | |
|
Yay Boxes
@rr.com
|  Boxes are fine...
|
|
We Want Broadband -- Provided It's Aesthetically Pleasing
Do your homework
In years past most utilities were installed in the back yard between lots on telephone poles. This was particularly popular where homes were built back to back. That allowed one cable run to serve twice as many proprieties as placing utilities in the front of homes. Eventually the Federal Government required that all utilities be buried. That resulted in a problem when the property owner dug up their back yard for any reason and cut cables. In recent years many developers have chosen to place all utilities at the front of the property. The advantage is that the service personnel do not have to go into the back yard of the home to connect or disconnect service. These problems can be resolved if one does their homework.