Embarq/CenturyTel Union Getting Closer - Regulators in California, Oregon, and Virginia approve...

Embarq/CenturyTel Union Getting Closer
Regulators in California, Oregon, and Virginia approve...
11:55AM Wednesday May 20 2009 by Karl Bode
tags: dsl · competition · business · telco · Embarq · CenturyLink

Last October, the seventh largest ILEC (Centurytel) acquired the fourth largest (Embarq) in a deal estimated to be worth $11.6 billion. Telecompetitor directs our attention to a CenturyTel press release that notes California, Oregon, and Virginia have approved the deal. That leaves just two of the thirty three States the company does business in who've yet to approve the deal. The freshly fused company would have 7.5 million access lines, more than two million broadband customers and more than 400,000 video subscribers.

Embarq Customers Learning About CenturyTel

Embarq/Centurytel Deal Moving Forward

Qwest Keeps Pretending Speed Doesn't Matter

FCC Greenlights Centurytel/Embarq With Wimpy Conditions

Verizon: Cut Your Landline To Save Money

Verizon Disavows DSL -- Sort Of

Qwest: 265,000 ADSL2+/VDSL Customers

What Network Neutrality Is REALLY About

Forums » Embarq/CenturyTel Union Getting Closer


	view: topics flat text	Post a:

Jerm join:2000-04-10 Richland, WA	Century Tel My in-laws have them. What a phone company. Still sells 256kbps DSL. Welcome to 1998!
	permalink · 2009-05-20 11:19:39 ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Re: Century Tel At least its something. They could just up and only offer dial-up. CenturyTel also is somewhat a rural provider.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 11:30:21 ·

inteller Sociopaths always win. join:2003-12-08 Tulsa, OK	Re: Century Tel so you are saying that people should be grateful for "broadband" that is worse than some 3rd world countries?
	permalink · 2009-05-22 08:14:49 ·

slappy white join:2008-06-16 La Crosse, WI	Where do your in-laws live? CenturyTel serves many areas with 256k that would not have better than dial up otherwise.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 11:47:45 ·

Jerm

join:2000-04-10
Richland, WA

Re: Century Tel

Wow lots of CT fans or something? The inlaws live near Tacoma, Washington in Gig Harbor. Not exactly a rural backwater.

Just FWIW, they did try CT DSL a year ago when it had some kind of promo. Still wasn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination.

These are non-techy people. Their computer is old and slow (1ghz w/ 384mb RAM). They were used to dialup. Even at 256kbps, DSL was faster than the 26.4 dialup.

But then they got Comcast... no comparison.

permalink · 2009-05-20 12:36:07 ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Re: Century Tel maybe they live on the edge of the DSL service area which only allows them to obtain those speeds with DSL. Many telco's do not deploy RTs to increase the distance.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 13:38:17 ·

slappy white

join:2008-06-16
La Crosse, WI

So they have 256k or better available to them with CenturyTel...they just choose to go with Comcast. I better understand your original post now.
So are they paying $50 something dollars for a speed that there old and slow computer will never fully realize? They may have not needed much more than 256k. (FWIW you can get DSL cheaper now by going without the previously required phone line)
Comcast should have an Internet Economy tier that is 1.0M for around 25 bucks. You may want to look into that for them.

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:02:04 · Print ·

Jerm join:2000-04-10 Richland, WA 1 edit	Re: Century Tel Gosh do either of you guys have CT? First off at the time it was a promo for 256kbps DSL for I think something like $25 a month (was the "base" speed package). To get 1.5mbps was nearly double that cost. Again this was all over a year ago anyway. I'm not the one who suggested they upgrade to cable, they switched and were commenting on how much faster it was.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 15:43:26 ·

slappy white

join:2008-06-16
La Crosse, WI

Re: Century Tel

I do. I have Pure Broadband 10M and My Premium IPTV (CenturyTel's TV product in La Crosse).
I know I live in one of the best CenturyTel markets, but I have no complaints. I was just on the phone with them the other day trying to sort out what would be best for my Mother. I saw your post and was curious about your in-laws situation. With CenturyTel or Comcast (or anyone for that matter) things change...prices change...packages change...speeds change. If they are happy with Comcast then that is great. If they are not I would call CenturyTel and get the latest and greatest and not go by what everything was over a year ago. Take care

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:58:12 · Print ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Ohio Ohio will be next. They have a meetings set this month and the first part of June and the deal is expected to be voted on then.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 11:29:45 ·

patcat88 join:2002-04-05 Jamaica, NY	Verizon This foreshadows how the Verizon spinoff to Frontier will go. The PUCs are still approving anything with a catchy video.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 14:45:28 ·

Time
Premium
join:2003-07-05

·Dish Network

·Cox HSI

·Embarq

Embarq NV

This merger is nothing more than two corporations who have no interest in investing in their broadband market. I can obtain 1.5 Mbps DSL at my location (welcome to 2000?) - meanwhile, Cox is offering 16 Mbps. I really wish they'd just sell off the Vegas market to AT&T or Verizon. You know it's pathetic when an internet provider treats a heavily urban area (the fastest growing in the nation, mind you) as if it were rural.

Not saying Cox is bad, but it would be nice to have some worthy telco competition here to give them a reason to implement DOCSIS 3.0.
--
"If it can't be done with brains, it can't be done with hours" - Clarence "Kelly" Johnson

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:00:29 · Print ·

GeekJedi RF is Good For You Premium join:2001-06-21 Mukwonago, WI clubs: ·CenturyLink ·VOIPo ·Vonage ·RoadRunner Cable 1 edit	Re: Embarq NV On the other hand I get 10000/768 from CenturyTel at my house, compared to the 8000/512 for the same price from Time Warner Cable. Welcome to 2009? -- The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!
	permalink · 2009-05-20 15:04:19 ·

Time
Premium
join:2003-07-05

·Dish Network

·Cox HSI

·Embarq

1 edit

Re: Embarq NV

said by GeekJedi

:

On the other hand I get 10000/768 from CenturyTel at my house, compared to the 8000/512 for the same price from Time Warner Cable.

Welcome to 2009?

You live in a different city. I'm fairly sure the title of my post included "NV" as in Nevada, primarily Vegas, which has been a garbage telco market since the days of Sprint.
--
"If it can't be done with brains, it can't be done with hours" - Clarence "Kelly" Johnson

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:07:58 · Print ·

GeekJedi RF is Good For You Premium join:2001-06-21 Mukwonago, WI clubs: ·CenturyLink ·VOIPo ·Vonage ·RoadRunner Cable	Re: Embarq NV Oh, I can certainly read. I mention it because I'm fairly sure that you've already passed judgment when CenturyTel is a much different (read better) company than Embarq. -- The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!
	permalink · 2009-05-20 21:01:41 ·

Time Premium join:2003-07-05 ·Dish Network ·Cox HSI ·Embarq	Re: Embarq NV If they actually are better and can provide some competition for Cox, I'll be ecstatic. However, after years of nothing from both Sprint and Embarq, I'm sure you can understand why I'm skeptical. -- "If it can't be done with brains, it can't be done with hours" - Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
	permalink · 2009-05-21 00:11:52 ·

slappy white

join:2008-06-16
La Crosse, WI

Embarqs shortcomings in Vegas probably speak to the larger story of Embarqs problems. Maybe that is why they were acquired by a smaller company. I know CenturyTel currently has 10M and 20M products available in some of their larger markets...and by larger I mean large for them, nowhere near the size of Vegas. So CenturyTel seems to better understand serving urban markets...you may some worthy telco competition in your future after all.

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:10:54 ·

Time
Premium
join:2003-07-05

·Dish Network

·Cox HSI

·Embarq

2 edits

Re: Embarq NV

said by slappy white

:

Embarqs shortcomings in Vegas probably speak to the larger story of Embarqs problems. Maybe that is why they were acquired by a smaller company. I know CenturyTel currently has 10M and 20M products available in some of their larger markets...and by larger I mean large for them, nowhere near the size of Vegas. So CenturyTel seems to better understand serving urban markets...you may some worthy telco competition in your future after all.

Forgive me if I'm skeptical, but Embarq (previously Sprint, atleast here) has been saying they plan to upgrade our dino city network for the longest. Meanwhile, our pals up in Reno are being fed U-Verse from AT&T. I'm jealous

Perhaps CenturyTel will upgrade, although it would appear that they have a long way to go. I'm hoping, based on the fact that CenturyTel is better with rural areas, that they'll just sell off the Vegas market.
--
"If it can't be done with brains, it can't be done with hours" - Clarence "Kelly" Johnson

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:22:12 · Print ·

slappy white

join:2008-06-16
La Crosse, WI

1 edit

Re: Embarq NV

Anything is possible. They hooked some pretty big fish with Embarqs Vegas and Orlando markets. They appear to be more aggressive than most...maybe those were the big chips in the game they were looking for. It will take some time, but if they keep Vegas they would have to see the upside in getting them at least 10M or better. Good Luck with that!

edit: I just noticed your Air Force avatar. Thank You for your service.

permalink · 2009-05-20 15:29:25 ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Re: Embarq NV They picked up a good chunk of Ohio with the purchase of Embarq as well.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 17:45:18 ·

dome @centurytel.net	I live in a town of 3,000 and have fiber - 15/1...
	permalink · 2009-05-20 16:28:55 ·

DarnellP join:2004-10-12 Las Vegas, NV	I get 10 Mbps DSL from Embarq at my location. Go figure... That, of course, is slower than the Cox 16 Mbps premier package, but a hell of a lot better than 1.5 Mbps.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 18:09:22 ·

Tarheels Fan Premium join:2006-01-05 ·Embarq	The exact reason you are still on 1.5, was your expanding city. The techs couldn't lay the fiber fast enough. There have been A LOT of upgrades in Vegas. I know that doesn't mean much to you, but its not like the whole city was neglected. I know of a major upgrade in Vegas now that is upgrading 1000's of customers to different dslams.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 19:23:16 ·

Eat Me

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

·PenTeleData

·Future Nine Corpor..

·VOIPo

·Vonage

3 edits

Fiber to the home

I am in Embarq territory and I get 30/2 from the cable company which is why I'm not with Embarq (they only offer 5/896 DSL here). I am hearing that CenturyTel's idea of FTTH is 15/1 which is a downgrade from what I have.

Better make it worthwhile and beat that, with a better TV offering than the cable company and Dish/DirecTV.

IPTV is also not going to cut it, unless there is some method to connect TiVo DVRs and TVs with CableCARD slots like the cable company and Verizon does.

Learn from other companies - FiOS is how it's done. U-Verse is how it's not.

permalink · 2009-05-20 17:36:34 · Print ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Re: Fiber to the home But CT doesn't have a cap do they?
	permalink · 2009-05-20 17:42:11 ·

CTEL GUY join:2007-06-13 Monroe, LA	Re: Fiber to the home No caps.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 17:48:17 ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Re: Fiber to the home so it would be a trade off for slower speeds for uncapped internet.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 18:05:19 ·

Eat Me

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

·PenTeleData

·Future Nine Corpor..

·VOIPo

·Vonage

1 edit

Re: Fiber to the home

said by hottboiinnc

:

so it would be a trade off for slower speeds for uncapped internet.

But if it's FTTH they can definitely offer 30M, 50M or even 100M speeds and definitely more than 1M upload.

I actually wouldn't mind 20/20 or even 20/5 or 15/5 speeds but not 15/1. I actually do need the 2M upload. More than that would be nice,

The other thing is that many of us have a significant investment (hundreds or thousands of dollars) in equipment such as TiVo DVRs and CableCARD ready TVs. Requiring a STB from the programming provider would be a step back. There are places in my house where I don't want a STB.

permalink · 2009-05-21 10:45:47 · Print ·

me1212 join:2008-11-20 Pleasant Hill, MO ·VOIPo	said by CTEL GUY : No caps. said by CTEL GUY : No caps. Wow, cool. Just so cool. I hope I can get DSL from y'all soon.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 19:08:06 ·

dsldude08 Premium,VIP join:2008-01-03 La Crosse, WI	But, then we have in the fiber areas now offering 20/3...so there you have a trade off too to decide on.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 18:27:03 ·

me1212 join:2008-11-20 Pleasant Hill, MO ·VOIPo	Re: Fiber to the home There is a rumor that they are working on DSL line bonding up to 20/3, and with no cap from ether CT or embarq that = instawin. If they keep their no cap and continue to grow(in all areas not just rural/urban) I think there will be good times ahead for them.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 19:04:36 ·

dsldude08 Premium,VIP join:2008-01-03 La Crosse, WI	Re: Fiber to the home Well, that's good news. I have the 10M plan right now and would love a 20/3 copper line for DSL, since I cannot get fiber yet where I'm at.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 19:45:30 ·

me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

·VOIPo

Re: Fiber to the home

Yeah IF they did that with all their lines(you would need at least two phone lines[or be able to get two/have two coming in to ur house] to get it) they could more or less double their MAX speed everywhere. Like say some1 lives in a areas that can only get 3m now they would be able to get 6m, 5m to 10m 1.5 to 3 ect.

I cannot get then YET, but with the new laser fiber thing letting the distance fiber can go go from 20mi to 36mi(I think) I hope it speeds up them getting here. I live about 3-4 miles away from DSL now. I live about 4/5mi-1mi from where the, IDK what it is called so I will call it, main phone hub thing is so I hope I will be able to get what is now 10m and if the rumor is true I would LOVE to get 20/3 and if they offered IPTV here I would bundle it. I live in a rural areas but still I would get both from them in a heart beat if they would let me.

And with them not having a cap in areas with doscic1.1 and maybe even doscic2 20/3 un-caped would give them a good advantage over cable. Heck in some places the 10m with a no cap would beat cable with a cap. And like I said if they line bond 10m would be @ more places(as would all their other packages) meaning more money for whet ever their new name will be.

permalink · 2009-05-20 19:57:34 · Print ·

hottboiinnc ME join:2003-10-15 Cleveland, OH	Re: Fiber to the home your phone hub is either the RT or the Cross Connect. the CO is the main POP. Fiber can go farther than 36miles though. As far as the cap goes---i see every company having a cap. just will see what the limits are for what areas.
	permalink · 2009-05-20 23:49:13 ·

me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

·VOIPo

Re: Fiber to the home

"i see every company having a cap. just will see what the limits are for what areas."

I do too in like 5 years. As long as they are docent caps, no LESS than 500GB for 3m and keep getting bigger with each package up ward, OR a REAL PAYG like $10 for 5m/? and like $0.15-ish per GB(or whatever IDK what it will cost them by then it may only be like a few cents so it may cost us less than $0.15 per GB it cost about 20% this year than last for bandwidth BUT ithe cost could go up so....). Ya know as long as the caps are reasonable for the time period(like 500GB make be like 100GB to day so the cap would have to be at the very LEAST 2.5TB(100GB=1/5 of 500GB and 500GBx5=2.5TB) and the ISPs are NOT using the to protect their tv money and or skrew their costumers it can work, BUT if they are using caps to protect their tv money and or skrew their costumer it won't work and hopefully the ISP will pahil. BUt I would not be surprised if the had at last one un caped pack(the one that cost you most) or un caped business packs like comcast for about $15-$20 more.

permalink · 2009-05-21 07:19:56 · Print ·

your comment..

Forums » Embarq/CenturyTel Union Getting Closer


Sunday, 08-Nov 05:44:52	Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy \| Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo \| feedback \| contact over 10 years online! © 1999-2009 dslreports.com.

Century Tel

Re: Century Tel

Re: Century Tel

Re: Century Tel

Re: Century Tel

Re: Century Tel

Re: Century Tel

Ohio

Verizon

Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Re: Embarq NV

Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home

Re: Fiber to the home