Smart decision 15 years ago brings $40 FTTH to Brentwood now

20 May 2014 by Steve Blum
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The biggest independent Internet service provider in northern California is building a fiber-to-the-home (and business) system in Brentwood. The eastern Contra Costa County city gave Sonic.net permission to use more than a hundred miles of conduit…

In 1999 the City implemented a requirement that all new development in the City be constructed with conduit to the home/business via the joint trench. The conduits were then dedicated to the City for future use. The City now has approximately 120–150 miles of City owned conduit reaching over 8,000 homes in addition to all commercial areas constructed over the past 15 years.

The basic selling proposition is a gigabit for $40 with unlimited phone service thrown in. Or residents with conduit will have the option of paying an upfront fee – in the $300 to $400 range according to Karl Bode at DSL Reports – and getting 5 Mbps service for five years for no additional costs. Newer neighborhoods with existing conduit will be prioritised on the basis of interest; at least one older neighborhood will be retrofitted with others to follow if there are enough pre-sign-ups. All very similar to Google in Kansas City.

The deal includes free fiber hookups for the City and other public facilities such as schools and fire stations. Homes that don’t get fiber will be offered 20 Mbps (and unlimited phone service) via copper, also for $40 per month. Sonic has committed to starting work in two months, lighting up the first customers within nine and finishing it all off in fifteen.