In this newsletter:

• Brief explanation of video streaming services
• Your options for streaming video
• Installation Project update

Helpful Hint # 2 – I Want My TV

Second in a series of tips to get the most out of your fiber internet

How we can watch TV has evolved quite a bit the last few years. Your new broadband service will allow you to gorge on programs in a neverending buffet of choice (limited only by your wallet!). If you’ve not experienced streaming internet before, it might seem complicated – it’s not!

Let’s take a look at the differences between satellite service and online video streaming and then explore your options with your new broadband service.

Satellite television service

Since Georgetown never had cable TV, if you live in here, you’ve watched live TV either by using a TV antenna mounted on your roof or via satellite with the dish mounted to your roof or in your yard clear of the trees. In both cases a coax cable winds its way from the antenna into your home and straight to your TV or via a splitter box to all your TVs.

The programming you receive with an antenna are local broadcast stations whose signal you can catch. Satellite service delivers the traditional bundle of 100+ live channels such as CBS, CNN, ABC, Lifetime and subscription movie channels such as HBO. You have a box and one remote that lets you scroll through all the channels. You may also have the ability to program and record programs digitally (DVR) to watch later.

What is a streaming channel?

Streaming is the general term for receiving video via an internet connection. Streaming channels historically referred to video services that are only available via the internet, some of the names you will recognize include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Apple+, NFL Network, MLB Network, and Disney+. Today, most cable and satellite services (Xfinity, DISHTV, DIrecTV) and most TV networks (CBS, NBC, ESPN) as well as PBS (Maine Public) and your public library (Kanopy), are all offering streaming versions of their services as well.

Why is streaming a better option now?

Your new broadband service means that you can watch programing at a quality exceeding what you see from satellite and you don’t have to worry about leaves or rain. And compared to DSL, it’s no contest. With DSL, you get a buffering spinner and fuzzy images, if you are lucky enough to view video at all.

Even with our core connection level offering – 25/25 – you will see your pictures in rock steady High Definition. So, if you want to “cut the cord” on your satellite subscription you can!

I get Netflix with my DishTV, so I’m good as is, right?

Congratulations! You already are streaming!

To retain subscribers, both DirecTV and DishTV have introduced hybrid products that combine the channels you get coming down via satellite with the streaming channels that, you guessed it, are using your current DSL. The hybrid product combines them into one interface so you can find them with your remote. If you look on the back of your satellite box you will see it is connected both via coax to the satellite, and via an ethernet connection to your existing Consolidated router or it was set up by your satellite tech to use your wireless network.

Once you get broadband, you have a couple of options:

1. Keep your DishTV or DirecTV subscriptions, but convert to the all broadband service version and get rid of your satellite dish (you’ll get better image and audio via streaming).
2. Subscribe to individual streaming subscription services that fit your needs and budget and cancel that satellite service.

How to decide which service is right for you

Deciding whether to retain your current satellite service or to cut the cord is a personal one. Satellite offers the ease of a bazillion channels at your fingertips (most of which, admit it, you don’t watch!). Streaming channels are typically subscribed to individually, although many internet channels are combining to offer their services, creating bundles like you’ve become used to with satellite.

We recommend you take a look at your current tv usage, make a list of the channels you are really using, and then determine how much it would cost to just subscribe to that list and to any new channels not available via satellite that you want) and you can make a value comparison to inform your decision on whether to switch.

Here’s an example case:

• CBS (Paramount+) $4.17/month
• Hulu $7.99/month
• Netflix $15.49/month (ad free – there now is a cheaper option with ads)
• HBOMax $10/month

=$37.64 versus $_____ for satellite

How to set your tv up for streaming without satellite

If you want to subscribe and watch streaming services directly on your TV without a satellite subscription, you have a couple of options:

Use your Smart TV – if you bought a TV in the last five+ years, it most likely already has the ability to stream built-in to it. To stream:

• Connect your tv to the router wirelessly by going to your tv’s settings, choosing your wireless network, and entering your password

  OR

• You can run an ethernet cord directly from the TV to the router to connect to the internet

Once connected, you can use the tv’s interface to select channels and some tv brands’ remotes have buttons to permit quick access to some services, e.g. Netflix. The quality of the interfaces really varies; if you like your experience you can stream channels without a device.

If you don’t like the interface, or you want an easy-to-use, all-in-one experience akin to your satellite subscription you’ll want to access channels with a streaming device.

These devices are inexpensive and in our opinion, superior to the television interfaces we’ve seen. We recommend Roku as it is the easiest and most economical to use. Other well known options include Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Tivo, and Google Chromecast.

What if I have a cable subscription at my other home?

If you, or someone that loves you, has a cable subscription in another market, then you can use that cable subscription to watch tv online here in Georgetown.

Years ago, the cable providers created the TV Anywhere concept to keep subscribers tethered to their cable subscription by providing more value. Current cable subscribers can sign into streaming channels using their login credentials from their cable tv provider. For instance, if you have Xfinity, and you have TCM (Turner Classic Movies), you can use your Xfinity credentials to log into the TCM streaming channel and watch here in Georgetown at no additional cost.

I don’t have cable, but I love scrolling through channels…

If you love having all the channels or your cost-value analysis suggests that the price for individual subscriptions will be a lot of $$, you can continue to subscribe to DirecTV or DishTV or you can take a look at several services that offer 40-60 base channels of programming, plus add-on channels with no contract, often closely mirroring the channels of DirecTV or DISH. CNET has a handy guide here. Since there are no contracts for any of these services, you can try them for a month and then decide what you really want to watch and pay for.

In sum….

The move from satellite to streaming isn’t difficult but if you’ve not experienced streaming before, we know it may seem a bit mysterious. we hope that this quick overview is helpful. We are thinking through the best way to answer questions and help folks take advantage of all that streaming offers! Let us know if you think an in-person session or webinar would be helpful.

Project Update

Every day we hook up new customers – as of this mailing we are over 125 customers! The additional work CCI required is complete and we have submitted the revised applications to CCI for final inspection. As we have throughout we will update you on the schedule when we have the information – we know folks are anxious.

If you are seasonal, we continue to allow another entity to be the homeowner’s Authorized Representative. Simply email Terry and we will forward a form to be completed. It is our desire to make these efforts as efficient and painless as possible.

With end of April completion date in sight, we don’t want to miss anyone who wants or needs service in this round!! Stringing fiber from the pole to the home and installing the terminals at the house costs a fair bit more than the $99 fee. We can subsidize the cost of the install through the end date of the construction phase. After that for any new install we will have to charge the actual cost taking into account the length from the nearest pole on the road and the equipment price – a minimum $500 for a new install. NOW is the time for them to call Axiom at 207-271-2801 and sign up! As always, the GBLLC crew is happy to answer any questions about the project.

As always, please be patient with all the crews since large trucks on our narrow roads make life difficult for all involved. If you have any issues, please contact Terry.

Service Terms and Pricing

Activation of new service may be deferred up to 12 months after service equipment is installed. In other words, customers can sign up for the $99 install offer, then defer the activation of service for up to 12 months. We understand that many have continuing commitments to Consolidated Communications, and we want to reduce barriers to taking advantage of the low initial install costs. Mention that you want service deferred when you sign up with Axiom.

As alway if you have more questions, need info on pricing please contact us or check out georgetownbroadband.com. Remember call Axiom at 207-271-2801 to sign up for service or email us with questions about the project. We are here to help!

Warm regards

Georgetown Broadband Team