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kdex86 t1_iuox63v wrote

Isn’t Verizon Fios widely available in the state? The “cable” option, Cox, sounds like a total ripoff. I think Rhode Islanders finally came to their senses when the pandemic hit and folks switched from Cox to Fios for the symmetrical speeds (and a lower monthly cost).

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Silentjosh37 t1_iuozwgw wrote

There is a good portion of the state that Verizon doesn't cover. Basically outside of the "95 corridor" their service starts becoming harder to come by. So Cox does kind of rule the roost, though the East Bay does have an option.

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kdex86 t1_iurchub wrote

This image suggests that Verizon Fios is available virtually everywhere west of Narragansett Bay.

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_iutkmxy wrote

I'd maybe not rely on 1 super out of focus graphic. There's a lot of parts of the state that can't do FIOS

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drnick5 t1_iupwu14 wrote

No, FIOS isnt availability in a lot of the state. This has to do with Verizon taking a ton of tax money to run fiber to "99% of homes that currently have copper" then stopping expansion during the 2008 downturn, and never starting again. They never got close to their 99% number, but due to loopholes in the contract, got to keep their money. (This happened in the entire US, not just RI)

Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Bristol and Warren, and I believe parts of south county can't get FIOS, not sure about Barrington.

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kdex86 t1_iurcksn wrote

Where in Rhode Island is "south county"? I thought counties were an afterthought in New England.

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drnick5 t1_iurf5eo wrote

Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't lol. South county would basically be the south west corner of the state. Charlestown, Exeter, Narragansett, North and South Kingston, Wakefield and Westerly among others.

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camodious t1_iupp9rr wrote

I’ve got the option for both and I’m on Cox because I was under the impression that Verizon was fairly unreliable and had absolutely terrible customer service. Are those points inaccurate or no longer true?

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johnnyrockets527 t1_iupq7og wrote

I’ve never had a problem with Verizon in the three years I’ve had them except for one day where all Google services weren’t reachable. I get $15 off of my internet (from $80 to $65) and another $15 off of my cell phone plan ($145 to $130 for two unlimited lines) for using both services.

Customer service blows (see the day google didn’t work - they denied there was an issue on their end while there was a thread about it on here), but it’s no better or worse than the dozens of ISPs I’ve worked with in almost every state and worldwide as part of my job.

I point everyone I know their way. $65 for gigabit fios, where I consistently get 800 mbps up/down while wired is hard to beat.

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mydrivec t1_iupuo1o wrote

This is the way!

Both Verizon and Cox have generally awful customer service. Like cell companies, they all suck. However, I've had FIOS for 7 years now and had one 30 minute outage that I'm aware of...I would never go back to COCKS.

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camodious t1_iuqus2h wrote

Sounds like it’s time to switch then, thanks!

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Davecasa t1_iuqs21q wrote

My FiOS has literally never been down since I got it maybe a decade ago. Tree falls on the lines and everything looks destroyed, start up the generator and the internet is working great. Customer service I don't know, I've never had a problem.

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degggendorf t1_iur46gg wrote

I don't really know about their customer service since I've never had to call. The service always works as expected, and they've always charged me what i was expecting. I have had fios for around 4 years, and I don't think there has ever been a time when the power has been on and the internet has not worked.

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