What it takes to lay my own T1 or other data cable?

[arikeden]

I did consider satellite Internet, but I need reliable, always-on (even in bad weather) connection. I'm an IT security consultant and need connection that supports VPN and high bandwidth. Satellite plans that support VPN are very expensive and make T1 look very attractive. FAPs are a show-stopper because I do need to move lots of data at times. I was offered t1, but they wanted something like $600/month. They would have to lay cable about a mile or two along a freeway. I'm wondering if my own company lays that cable (or other medium): 1. is it subject to franchise agreement with my county? 2. who would own the cable? Is it true ownership? 3. Would my company then be able to sell the use of that cable? 4. What types of permits would I need: just county or some federal as well? Please enlighten me. Thanks.

[mdram]

I did consider satellite Internet, but I need reliable, always-on (even in bad weather) connection. I'm an IT security consultant and need connection that supports VPN and high bandwidth. Satellite plans that support VPN are very expensive and make T1 look very attractive. FAPs are a show-stopper because I do need to move lots of data at times. I was offered t1, but they wanted something like $600/month. They would have to lay cable about a mile or two along a freeway. I'm wondering if my own company lays that cable (or other medium): 1. is it subject to franchise agreement with my county? 2. who would own the cable? Is it true ownership? 3. Would my company then be able to sell the use of that cable? 4. What types of permits would I need: just county or some federal as well? Please enlighten me. Thanks.

laying cable along a road requires many things. most likely the company already has a row agreement and can do it. you would need to obtain all clearances, agreements, ect. do engineering plans. figure 1-2 years for approval, and 10-100k in fees
they can just do it usually
the actuall costs will vary on how they lay it. horizontal boring ads alot. open field would be cheaper.

[arikeden]

laying cable along a road requires many things. most likely the company already has a row agreement and can do it. you would need to obtain all clearances, agreements, ect. do engineering plans. figure 1-2 years for approval, and 10-100k in fees
they can just do it usually
the actuall costs will vary on how they lay it. horizontal boring ads alot. open field would be cheaper.

Thanks for the information. This other company is actually a small t1 provider - I'd be surprised if they had any kind of agreements with the county. State-level - yes, they might have. Anyways, assuming your assessment is correct, what about the ownership of the cable? How does that work? What if we work together with that company? How companies make return on investment? Once the cable is in the ground, can the company that laid the cable claim exclusive access to it or can any other telco use it for a flat fee or negotiated fee?

[mdram]

Thanks for the information. This other company is actually a small t1 provider - I'd be surprised if they had any kind of agreements with the county. State-level - yes, they might have. Anyways, assuming your assessment is correct, what about the ownership of the cable? How does that work? What if we work together with that company? How companies make return on investment? Once the cable is in the ground, can the company that laid the cable claim exclusive access to it or can any other telco use it for a flat fee or negotiated fee?

when roads are put in there are utility easements/rows on each side, i think all util companies have access to them. the company you are taling to may sub thier lines from att or verizon. try calling the major company in your area. im not sure of the ownership of lines, but i think you have to let others use them for a fee. i just used to design the roads, never got into the some of that stuff. i had enough headaches

[navychop]

You'll only get 1.5 Mbps out of a T1 anyway. Heck, we're small and we use a pair of bonded T1 lines. Maybe you are more in line for a T3? But the bucks you'll pay are big. You have probably gathered that you will not be laying your own cable. You could conceivably set up a wireless system, but this is not cheap either.

1. Yes, an agreement, but I wouldn't call it franchise.
2. Usually, you lay it you own it. Certain utilities get turned over to the local government.
3. Depends upon the agreement, your licensing and permits. IOW, ain't gonna happen.
4. Oh, this varies SOOOO much. There are companies that specialize in doing this sort of thing, getting required permits.

And you must pay for any damages you cause. And you'll likely cause some.

This is not a do it yourselfer project. $600 isn't far off the mark. Look into resellers, CLECs rather than ILECs

All this is based on my just shy of 5 years of working for a local government.

[arikeden]

You'll only get 1.5 Mbps out of a T1 anyway. Heck, we're small and we use a pair of bonded T1 lines. Maybe you are more in line for a T3? But the bucks you'll pay are big. You have probably gathered that you will not be laying your own cable. You could conceivably set up a wireless system, but this is not cheap either.

1. Yes, an agreement, but I wouldn't call it franchise.
2. Usually, you lay it you own it. Certain utilities get turned over to the local government.
3. Depends upon the agreement, your licensing and permits. IOW, ain't gonna happen.
4. Oh, this varies SOOOO much. There are companies that specialize in doing this sort of thing, getting required permits.

And you must pay for any damages you cause. And you'll likely cause some.

This is not a do it yourselfer project. $600 isn't far off the mark. Look into resellers, CLECs rather than ILECs

All this is based on my just shy of 5 years of working for a local government.

Thanks again for all your responses.
Yeah, I knew it's not a do-it-yourself. I was thinking alone the lines: this small ISP (megapath, I think) would not do it themselves either - they would hire a sub to actually lay the cable, and they are able to make a profit after 12 months... Why can't I do it?!
I've heard something about Universal Fee being redirected into broadband access ventures (instead of phone access) - may be there are some money.
I have two WISPs close by yet out of reach.
Bluemont Networks came by to test signal - they were confident they could get a good signal to supply me with a ***T1*** - yeah, they insist on calling it T1, even though they refer to wireless 1.5 mpbs which isn't T1 by any measure. Well, they could not get a signal.
I guess it would cost me $800/month to rent an office in a nearby town and $200/month for a 15mpbs business DSL with 30 IP addresses...

[Stargazer]

If you paid that having a cost of $1,000 total and could split the cost between some businesses offering it wirelessly then it would help you and other businesses get the bandwidth for a lower cost. I would try to run a wireless link to your place from a business that is closest to where you can feed a fiber/T-1 or pay them so much to receive so much of their bandwidth, give them something for tying into their place.

[Jared Twomey]

I would look into the wireless route a little more. I don't know what city you live in, but there are often fixed-wireless providers, that you don't know about.
I work for a fixed wireless microwave isp, and we do little to no advertising. Our customers are mostly big companies needing custom solutions.
And i'm not sure why you dont think wireless compares to a T1, about 1/3 of our customer base is people that have switched away from T1's and bonded T1's, why? Cause they are too slow. If you want to spend the cash, wireless can be as fast as you want it to be.
We also often do point-to-point connections... is there any houses or buildings within a couple miles that you can see, that can get a decent internet connection? You can often talk someone into letting you use their building as a relay. Just an idea

[Claude Greiner]

If you can get phone service, you can get a T1. Its just a matter for the phone company to open each and every splice box and cut out all the multiples and install line amplifiers at certain points along the system.

I got T1's at the office and they are a pain in my butt, since we are like 27,000 feet from the central office and running on old lead cable. Everytime the fricken cable gets wet, we have issues.

Your probably better off looking into some point to point wireless systems, find a commercial building for rent a few miles away where DSL is available and rent some space on a rooftop for $100 per month to setup your point to point wireless network

[chicagonettech]

There are some new business broadband providers who have come into the markets in recent years. While they are mostly in the major metropolitan areas, they are expanding very quickly.

We have three facilities where the land-line based services are always failing and we opted for a company called BOB Business Broadband. They need a line-of-site to a microwave tower or receiver - generally on a high building, and can provide up to 20 megabytes with up to 128 static IP addresses.

BOB Business Broadband wireless is STABLE and DEPENDABLE. We have had some major wind, snow, and rain storms and never lost connectivity, which, for us, is extremely important as doctors are pulling medical images while they are doing surgeries and we must have an always available connection.