Can I assume the bigger fiber ISP’s would not offer these options? Compared to local/regional providers that maybe started out as WISPs?
I will say at least Illinois made an effort to hand out BEAD fiber awards to local companies. Comcast fiber did get one area by me, but there’s a consortium of small telcos, and a small WISP/FISP from a town west of Rockford. They also chose Amazon Kuiper (now renamed Amazon Leo) over Starlink, I don’t know if Amazon submitted a more attractive bid, or if it was just to poke a finger in Elon’s eye. From: AF <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bill Prince Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2025 12:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AFMUG] FTTH and outbuildings I think it depends on a mishmash of competition, distance, usage, and what your charity level is. If it's an outbuilding, then usage will probably be low, but if it's 1,000 feet away, then it's a significant upgrade. If the customer is running a business out there, then usage might be significant, which could justify a separate account. and... what would your competitors do? Burying a cable (fiber or copper) is probably a significant expense, and if it can be cast as an extension, the simplest thing is T&M for the extension. However, if the usage is that low, then a PTP link would be simpler, cheaper, and satisfy the usage requirement. bp <part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com> On 11/16/2025 9:47 AM, Ken Hohhof wrote: Now that we’re seeing a lot of rural fiber going in (or will soon due to BEAD), what is the typical approach when customers have outbuildings? Run a second drop and sell them a second service? Give them a WiFi mesh extender and tell them to put it in the outbuilding and pray? Bury a fiber or Ethernet cable from the house to the outbuilding and charge them a one-time fee? Tell them it’s a home networking problem and call Geek Squad? Assume WiFi7 “whole home WiFi” is so amazing it will just work? Some people just have a shed or barn, but lots also use them for family gatherings or football watch parties and there are definitely TVs out there. I don’t think this is as common in the city and suburbs where fiber usually lives.
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