AT&T Looking to Expand its Gigabit Internet Service

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but the internet is outstanding.

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In short, if your city plays nice and gives AT&T what they want legislatively (namely gut consumer protections requiring they keep serving DSL users they don't want so they can focus on more profitable wireless) you'll get 1 Gbps fiber to a few high-end developments and apartment buildings. As an added bonus, your local politician can hold a lovely cord-cutting ceremony where he or she pretends to be encouraging the broadband networks of tomorrow (while in reality doing the exact opposite).

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We're in the heart of the age of "fiber to the press release" and 1 Gbps mania, where all you need to do is simply mention 1 Gbps and you get a ticker-tape parade and a statue in the town square without having to deliver a single byte. AT&T's certainly counting on that reaction from the press and public. Look for specifics as to how many users will actually get 1 Gbps "Gigapower" service and at what cost to AT&T, and you'd be hard-pressed to find any whatsoever. That's because "Gigapower" is about 10% actual broadband, and 90% finely-manicured bullshite.

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The press release admits as much if you look carefully. "This expanded fiber build is not expected to impact AT&T’s capital investment plans for 2014," notes AT&T. That's what they noted last year, and will surely say the same thing next year. In fact, AT&T's been reducing their fixed-line CAPEX each year. What kind of major 1 Gbps broadband expansion doesn't hit your CAPEX? One that's either very tiny, or simply doesn't exist.

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