Will The Rest of St. Louis Soon Join the 21st Century?
I live in a quiet South St. Louis neighborhood less than 6 miles from downtown yet, as of today, I still cannot get DSL service. As a result, I’ve had high-speed internet through Charter Communications (cable) for the last few years. Admittedly my service is faster than DSL but it is also more costly. It has baffled me that AT&T (then SBC) was not pressured into making sure all of St. Louis was equally covered.
It looks like this inequity will soon be rectified, from the St. Louis Business Journal:
AT&T Missouri is investing $28 million to bring Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) high-speed Internet access to Missouri consumers in 15 additional cities this year, Gov. Matt Blunt said Tuesday.
Blunt made the announcement with Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons and House Speaker Rod Jetton. The project is slated to be completed by the end of 2006.
The campaign will expand DSL coverage, served by AT&T Missouri, in: Kirksville, St. Joseph, Smithville, Kansas City, Moberly, Harvester, Manchester, St. Louis, Wildwood, Park Hills, Springfield, Republic, Joplin, Union and Neosho, Mo.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I don’t know what areas of the city are not covered as AT&T would never release any maps in response to my inquiries last year. It sounds like whatever areas are not currently served that they will be in short order. This will be very helpful for the perception of parts of the City of St. Louis that seem like third world countries for not having DSL availability. Lacking DSL hurts home sales in an area as well as the ability to attract businesses.
Now if only we can get a large part of downtown served by wi-fi we’d be all set.
– Steve
Heck, Steve. Large parts of downtown aren’t even covered by cable.
Neither AT&T nor Charter offers high-speed Internet access in the Hyde Park neighborhood. It’s the early 21st century version of redlining.
It’s about damn time.
I’ve had both Cable and DSL, and I’ll never ever go back to DSL. The upload and download speeds with Cable are vastly better. I don’t care how much more I pay (actually, I pay for the highest charter ‘net package, so it’s 42.99), it will always be cable.
As a former SBC manager in the DSL subsidiary, I can shed some light on the situation. To install DSL into an area requires major upgrades to the central offices, and in some remote areas installation of totally new distribution boxes. Further, in some areas where make-shift devices were used to increase the number of lines available, as faxes and second lines became popular, those devices have to be worked around. Even with all those upgrades, some of the lines will still not support DSL, and would require replacement. Installing DSL in an area is a very costly project. And, unlike the cable industry, the phone company has been around for nearly 100 years, and much of the equipment is very old itself. Althought it works well for phone conversations, is not able to handle higher frequency data signals. So, count yourself lucky if you can get DSL. Oh, and keep in mind that in some areas of rural Missouri, they were still on party lines until 15 years ago.
[REPLY Yeah, I’ve heard the “very expensive” excuse before but the article says $28 million to cover 15 areas, including some rural towns that have never had DSL. That just doesn’t seem like much money relative to the area covered and the size of AT&T. – SLP]
We just switched from DSL to cable . . . DSL wasn’t much quicker than dial-up where we live in SW City.
Instead of pushing for DSL, why not push for the wireless networks many other cities are already pursuing and/or installing? Wireless seems to have a much brighter future than landlines . . .
Well, while I’m happy that ATT is finally getting around to providing DSL to more areas of STL, I’m not at all impressed by the speeds offered by ALL of the major providers in the US. In a column published in the NYT 1.15.2’6, Randall Stross went over some of the speeds(and prices) issued by various telecom cos. Verizon on the east coast: 15mbps fiber-based at approx. $50 per mo; In California, Comcast cable broadband @ $50/mon. However, the most interesting information he provided were the speeds and prices of high-speed service in other locations around the globe. 100 mbps service in Japan: $25/mon. And (are you sitting down?) 1000mbps (1 gig) service in Stockholm, Sweden: less than 100 euros (approx. $120). So, we have the US carriers offering anemic delivery rates AND outrageous prices in comparison to at least two foreign cities. Combining this information with other articles I’ve read, it’s hard to be impressed by the “market” offerings here in the US. Innovation and technological advancement were once the hallmarks of American industry. While it would be inaccurate to make generalisations about US tele cos., I think I can safely assert that American industry is more focused only on extracting the maximum amount of profit from the minimum amount of services. While this may be a good strategy for short-term corporate gain, this lack of competitiveness and will to apply the most advanced services does not give me confidence that the US will retain the ability to compete in a global capitalistic market. Of course, the way that many companies attempt to corner tha market, limit consumer choices and stifle competition through legislation and political brib… er, contributions, it’s difficult for me to conclude that free-market capitalism is the primary goal of most major corporations. OK, time to jump off my soapbox.
Ha Ha, I have 6 Megabit DSL! WoHo!
What St. Louis needs is wifi for either cheap, or free.
I have a plan in place to provide such a service, and I have emailed, and mailed Slay several times with responses.
Here is the entire correspondence:
I would like to share an idea of mine, which would greatly benefit the citizens of the ward.
Broadcast wireless Internet signals over the ward for lower income citizens, like myself as I am attending college, or businesses that are starting up, which cannot afford expensive prices.
Use a combination of subscriber fees, corporate/personal donations/sponsors, and tax dollars. I question many federal government subsidies, however, on the local level, where the program can be monitored very closely, it may produce excellent results.
My plan would be to purchase, or lease, commercial wireless antennas, purchase bandwidth from the telephone or cable company, broadcast the signal over the ward, charge a lower install fee than Charter, or SBC, and lower monthly costs than Charter or SBC. Perhaps tax incentives could be given to the parent company providing the service. This project would require start up costs, as any business venture, and this would be a business venture, however, I think it would benefit our citizens greatly, along with putting our city on the “national map”. Philadelphia did the same thing for the entire city, and I think we should do follow their example because Charter requires outrages prices. It would also create positive national publicity, as few cities actually have a government sponsored/endorsed program such as this. I believe that no city actually offers this exact type of service, as Philly was offering a purely free service, and this is a lower cost subscription service. Lower income citizens, small businesses, and students, are now able to afford the Internet, and these would be considered more customers for the Internet Company, as the city purchases more bandwidth to support these citizens. Perhaps a local computer company could be subcontracted to support these connections, as Charter subcontracts in the same manner for installs/technical support.
This plan would create a huge draw for the ward, as this is a service that no other ward offers, and it is available in an already excellent area. Businesses, as well as the everyday citizen, would seek to relocate to the ward, as Internet costs are expensive. This plan could be expanded to include the entire city if it is successful, and I believe some sort of research into the possibility of this would be warranted, since the benefits are immense. Innovation is key for St. Louis, and this is innovation; please consider this idea, as the benefits are endless.
Response:
Thank you for your January 12 email and letter to Mayor Slay concerning wireless broadband access. Mayor Slay has asked me to respond to your communication in my capacity has his Executive Director for Development.
Please be assured that the City has been thinking long and hard about wireless broadband access throughout the City. We are currently trying to get a handle on what the costs of service would be and with whom the City might partner. SBC is a logical choise due to their 6500+ jobs in the City and their commitment to City success.
It is our understanding that broadband DSL from SBC is currently priced at 20 a month, it maybe difficult to beat this price if new equipment must be purchased as well as bandwidth from others. We are, nevertheless, excited by the new possibilites of this new technology and we are giving it serious consideration.
As we gather more information on the issues involved, you will most certainly see coverage in the media as we make decisions on this matter. Thank you for bringing your unique idea to your attention, please feel free to pass along any other new ideas you may have. Thank you too, for choosing to be a resident of the City of St. Louis. Good luck with your studies and your business, please feel free to give us a call if we can be of any assistance in helping you grow your business in our City of St. Louis.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara A. Geisman
My Response:
Dear Mrs. Geisman:
Thank you for your wonderful reply to my letter concerning wireless Internet access for the city of St. Louis. I am very pleased to see the letter is personal, and not a basic template, which many state/federal officials prefer.
I am pleased to hear that Mayor Slay, as well as, his staff are investigating this issue. If the city does provide wireless Internet access, then there are many possibilities, such as:
Create a “home page” on this wireless network, which will appear upon opening the Internet browser. This page would list current city events, news, and easy ways to contact public officials with concerns and compliments; this page could also have a direct link to the Crime Map of St. Louis, and possibly a telephone directory of City Hall.
In effect, this would be a private network with a login and password for each unique user; this way, non-users would not abuse the wireless network, since authentication is required for access. This system is used by many hotels as a way of providing wireless Internet for patrons. Once the user visits the home page, enters the login and password, the public Internet is now accessible.
Allow access to the St. Louis Public Library through this wireless network, which goes beyond simply browsing for book availability.
The library staff could electronically scan older material, such as Globe Democrat issues from the 1920Â’s, and make these available on this network in the easy-to-use Adobe PDF format. This way citizens are able to access older material from home, which will both preserve this material (oil damage from skin), enable the library to reach a greater number of citizens (those who cannot drive, or those who are prevented by traffic, etc.), and create an electronic archive in case of physical damage.
With Library access, citizens could request books and have them mailed to the residence, similar to the MOBIUS book rental system which local colleges provide. If a citizen does not return the book, they could be charged on the wireless Internet bill.
I did a college research paper on architect William Ittner, who designed the Continental Life Building, as well as, most of the St. Louis Public Schools. My sources were these pre-WWII St. Louis Globe Democrat articles, and I think it would be responsible to preserve them, as well as, make them accessible electronically. If they were damaged, then they would be lost forever; history, especially St. Louis history, must be preserved.
These systems are unique, and will create large amounts of positive publicity for our city of St. Louis; the benefits for constructive programs, such as these, are unlimited. I can think of no reason to ignore St. Louis as a residential destination. With the burgeoning rehabs, downtown commercial and entertainment development, MetroLink expansion, and innovative programs such as these, St. LouisÂ’ population will increase, as will its tax base. If Mayor Francis Slay implements this program, and others, I am sure he will break the record for consecutive mayoral terms. He will certainly have my first ever-mayoral vote, as well as, other citizens across demographic lines. Again, thank you for your reply, and I look forward to your future correspondence.
No Reply!
I read the USA TODAY article and now I have sent another letter to Slay.
Honorable Mayor Slay,
Per the two letters I sent you, and Mrs. Geisman, I would like to stress that St. Louis could still come out of the pack, and roll out wireless, before many other U.S. cities. A recent USA TODAY article points out that now Chicago has gone wireless. I think we should get on this project. The Cubs can’t beat us, and neither should their wireless service.
Thanks for finally getting the City Centre on track. Whatever you did, I congratulate this administration for dealing with this eyesore.
Geez, Doug, didn’t you post that mailing thread at least once before? Anything like that takes time and money.
As for me, at home we have three free dial-up accounts. Until all those go away, I will not be getting DSL.
What I’d like to figure out is just how much of St L city is “too far” from a Central Office to ever get DSL. Probably not much. So tech upgrades are the real issue.
Meanwhile, competition in this area is decreasing, not increasing. Pretty soon, “the new AT&T” will acquire BellSouth. Before you know it, there will be one national “Ma Bell” again.
And, as for Travis’ comment about party lines: my mom’s house near I-255 and Telegraph Road in South County still had a party line shared with a nearby house until less than 20 years ago! Those weren’t just in rural Missouri. And until about 10 years ago, my mom still insisted on pay-by-the-minute local phone service. For her, someone who hates using the phone, it was actually cheaper!
I just moved back here from Des Moines where I was going to college. Surprisingly, after reading that very same article, Des Moines is making stronger and lasting strides for the lower income demographic (including providing wireless access in the city as well as many of the suburbs). As it is now, I live with my parents and am barely making over minimum wage- with a college degree. All this after I made the decision to move back home because I thought there would be more opportunities for higher pay here and I turned down what would have been an extremely high paying career start in Des Moines. No place to carry my laptop around (and no money) is my cost for moving to a bigger city. The idea that it costs too much is ridiculous- a wifi line split between several users would cost pennies compared to plug in access.
Thankfully, my boss is redeveloping parts of downtown (Chouteau’s Landing) and I have expressed to him several times about installing the technology and capability of wireless internet now, while there is still a chance of it not costing him a fortune to install it down the road when the buildings are done.
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