Switching to Comcast

[Sonia]

I received the following Email from Juli this morning, updating us on Comcast's progress:


Hi, again. Jeff called me within seconds of my sending the previous e-mail to you. Could I impose on you to relate the info to the rest of the community?

Short version: Comcast is expected to begin indoor construction within days and hopes to have us hooked up by Election Day.

Long version: What's been holding things up is the negotiations with the Lefrak Organization, but Jeff said they're on the verge of completion. Comcast, as well as the contractors (including a company called Prince) are champing (not chomping) at the bit. Comcast's situation is akin to people being lined up outside Macy's doors at five minutes before ten a.m. Soon, the place will be swarming with Comcast technician (who'll be doing the major electrical work) and the many contractors doing the in-apartment wiring. Newport management is attempting to be considerate of its tenants, wanting the work to be done swiftly and with the least amount of intrusion. That's considerate, but I think we are most welcoming of whatever it takes to get in a better service. RCN has become intolerable with their break-in Digital on Demand commercials, which, among other things, adds insult to injury.

Jeff and I plan to speak again next Tuesday. If we do, I'll let you know.

Thanks and regards,
Juli

[Newbie]

Has anybody seen any Comcast trucks around?

[dontslamthedoor]

I'm a bit funny in that I don't like to belong to any group (that'd have me as a member), and value freedom of choice, speech, right to protest and democracy and justice and professionalism and equal opportunity for all and other good stuff like that...

Someone visiting me from Canada said to me, "what is this, a town in Russia?", when I told her about the choices I have here for cable TV and internet service, and the tarif I had to pay NTC to get Verizon telephone service connected.

What was it that Comcast had to negotiate for with Lefrak? Do you know, Sonia? Do we live in a town in New Jersey, or a socialist republic of Lefrak?

I've been living with HIGH (right) speed internet provided by NTC who "was brought in through the goodness of Lefrak because no one else wanted to" (those quoted words were spoken to me by an NTC representative.)

And I just ordered cable tv from RCN (been too long without tv.)

For people like me (I'm sure there're others?), I'd like to raise a modest proposal.

To afford to as many people as possible the opportunity of release from NTC and RCN, there should be some way to broadcast the availability of Comcast in various Newport buildings as they become available.

Instead of a notice on a physical bulletin board in the lobby of each building, how about a thread entitled "Comcast availability in xxxxx building" for each building? I'd subscribe to that thread for the South Hampton building.

[neetzer]

That would be great if we had a list of what buildings are going to get access to Comcast and when. I live in John Adams and have not seen anything about that building yet.

[Sonia]

That would be great if we had a list of what buildings are going to get access to Comcast and when. I live in John Adams and have not seen anything about that building yet.

You are welcomed to start a thread, tracking Comcast's progress. Last I heard, they were wiring the Madison Building. I have a call into the management office, to get an update, but have not heard back yet. However, you should contact Jeff Crandall at Comcast for more current info. You should tell him we are starting a thread on this Bulletin Board to keep track of their progress. You may also want to mention that our website reached 900,000 hits last month, and may go higher this month. It looks like our numbers merit their prompt attention. :)

[zipbow]

You are welcomed to start a thread, tracking Comcast's progress. Last I heard, they were wiring the Madison Building. I have a call into the management office, to get an update, but have not heard back yet. However, you should contact Jeff Crandall at Comcast for more current info. You should tell him we are starting a thread on this Bulletin Board to keep track of their progress. You may also want to mention that our website reached 900,000 hits last month, and may go higher this month. It looks like our numbers merit their prompt attention. :)
How do we contact Jeff Crandall? I really can't wait till Comcast gets here. The Internet has been ridiculously unstable recently!

[neptune]

Just called Comcast. According to 1 of the supervisor, the complete wiring of the Newport area will not be completed until at best next year. We are looking at february for all buildings. I was told that the service will include high speed internet.
Anyone can confirm this?

[Prashant]

The Comcast guys wired my apartment in Thomas Jefferson last night - I think they covered all the apartments on the 20th, 21st & 22nd floors yesterday. However, the guy did not have a definite answer as to when we can start receiving their service :( !

[demiking]

They are going to wire my apartment today. Where and what exactly are they going to be doing?

[neetzer]

Did they call you and tell you that they were going to wire your apt for Comcast or did you have to call and ask? I hope they start wiring John Adams soon!!

[Prashant]

Did they call you and tell you that they were going to wire your apt for Comcast or did you have to call and ask? I hope they start wiring John Adams soon!!
We received the circular from Management a day before.

[River Court Guy]

Any news of when the 'River Court' apartments will be wired?
I understood that we would be up & running by election day...
That's only 26 days away! :confused:

[Nic]

Don't you know EVERYTHING will be fixed on election day? THe whole world, not just your grubby apaprtment.

(PS I'm sure your apartment is not grubby, but I needed an adjective urgently and that was the only one I could find)

[anita]

Don't you know EVERYTHING will be fixed on election day? THe whole world, not just your grubby apaprtment.




mmm, see, that all depends on who gets elected :)

[Sonia]

It takes about eight days to wire each apartment in a building. Comcast is visiting each individual apartment, and is expected to complete the Thomas Jefferson by Oct 8th. Except for a few straggling apartments, the James Madison is finished. The George Washington and John Adams are next. Management expects Presidential Plaza to be completed some time during the beginning of November. Towers of America will be wired after Presidential Plaza, but there is no set date when Comcast will complete all this wiring, and switch on service. We may indeed be looking at February of 2005 for completion.

[zipbow]

That's.... another 5 months or so with NTC....
Let's hope February of 2005 is the final deadline! This constant drop of signals is really killing me!

[Tara]

Sorry Zipbow, but I believe the February 2005 date is a projection, not a guarantee. If we're lucky, the project may get done before that date, and vice versa -- if we're not.

[BaroqueJim]

It takes 8 days to wire each apartment? Sorry, I don't buy that at all. Are you saying workmen will have to be in each apartment for 8 days? Never heard of such a thing for wiring cable. Ever. In my life, I've lived in a few places that were "wired for cable" while I was there, and believe me, it doesn't take 8 days. And 5 years ago when I lived in England, they wired my street for cable (ie digging up the sidewalks and laying cable, then connecting it to people's houses) and the whole process took less than a week.

Who in the hell told you 8 days? Is this just another example of misinformation?

[NSK]

I think that Sonia meant to say that the wiring takes 8 days for each apartment complex. I'd be surprised if it's 8 days for each apartment.

[mrsean]

They (Comcast) were just on the 4th fl of the Jefferson building today, so assuming that they started from the top down like I heard they would, Jefferson should be completed by this Friday, the 15th.

I hope that Comcast doesn't wait until all the buildings are done before flipping the switch.

If someone sees them please ask them for an update.