OMG!! FIBER TO THE HOME!!

[dreamshark]

The first time the flyer showed up on my front porch I didn't see it until the deadline had passed, and cursed my luck.  Then another one showed up over the weekend with a deadline of Oct 7.  I called today and we're in!!

USInternet, the Minnetonka company that runs the Minneapolis wi-fi network has been laying fiber backbones through the city to feed into their wireless transmitters. They started with a major east-west backbone along 50th St.  (note that this article is from last February).  Now they are running a north-south spur, and for some reason have picked Pillsbury Avenue. It's true, they really are doing it. I've seen the machines squatting here and there on our block, drilling into the pavement like gigantic egg-laying wasps. 

Well, now they will be laying eggs into MY home wiring!  I called and signed up for 30Mbps ($30/month) and phone service with a lot of extras ($20).  They're coming next week to poke the cable through the wall, and by mid-November I should be able to boot Qwest out the door. For $50/month we'll have Internet service at 2.5 times the bandwidth I have now, plus phone service with all the perks I dropped a few months ago to save money.  AND free access to Minneapolis wi-fi from anywhere.

I'm so excited!

ETA: Found a more recent article about the project in my neighborhood.  Oh, that sucks. It looks like the whole thing just misses Blaisdell Poly. 

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

That's so very nice!

K.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Well, by 14 blocks. Curse them!

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Or by one block, depending on which direction you're counting from. It's a little unclear in the article, but I think the fiber is continuing north on Pillsbury and Pleasant until it crosses over to Blaisdell somewhere between Franklin and Lake.

If you want to call and double-check, 952-253-3209. Or email dustin@usinternet.com. You never know - the route might shift a little as the project continues.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Maybe I read too fast; I thought it said quite explicitly Franklin to 24th on Blaisdell (meaning I'm actually closer going over to Pillsbury; not that close counts for much in this game).

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I meant by 1 block. What's not quite clear is what happens between 24th and 28th. Not that those blocks make any difference to you, but it indicates a little bit of fuzziness in the route. Just in case it changes to include you, keep an eye out for the flyer on your porch. And if you can think of anybody you know along the planned route, tip 'em off!