RE: (ASCEND) ISDN is dying out - DSL is killing it

[w.wedemeyer@utexas.edu (Wayne Wedemeyer)]

In Texas there are several DSL trials that have moved to actual service.
There are published DSL services for the local loops.  The DSL has both
portions, the local loop and the ISP side. Bell in Austin now has a real
tariff approved
for their FasTrak DSL.  Their information page is at:
www.swbell.com/cgi-bin/page.exe?File=ProdOverview.html&PRODUCT_CODE_EQ=DSL
Here are some points from a University of Texas customer point of view.

1) The customer must already have SWB telephone service or
   get SWB telephone service before ADSL can be installed.

This is not quite true since they can now do separate billing.
There must be analog telephone service to the same location
for them to install ADSL.  If you are in a location where
your roommate has a telephone, they can put your ADSL on
their line.  They would get billed for the telephone and you
would get billed for the ADSL.

2) The customer must purchase their own ADSL modem, splitter
   and ethernet NIC.

They are available from SWBell as a package for $198.  We were
told that this is artificially low, the ADSL modem should
cost over $400.  Also, they said the new Dell computers have
an "Alcatel compatible" ADSL modem built-in to them.  If you
get one of those computers, you have to purchase the splitter
for $35.

3) They have two bandwidths tariffed:  384 to 1.5 Mbps down
with 128 Kbps up, and 1.5 to 6.0 Mbps down with 384 Kbps up.

If you live closer than about 12,000 cable feet to a supported
CO, you can get either speed choice.  If you live further than
12,000 cable feet away, you may only be able to get the lower
speed connection.  The upper limit of the lower speed connection
is between 16,000 and 18,000 cable feet, depending on the gauge
and quality of the wire.

Secondly, you _must_ have copper wire directly to your home.
This means that you cannot be fed off of a SLC.  The SWB folks
estimated that they will only be able to qualify 40% of the
Austin homes because of the high level of SLC deployment here.

4)  Only certain Central Offices will be supported.

5)  You must select an ISP at the time you order ADSL.
     If you want to change ISPs, there is a
change order charge of less than $50 to do so.

6)  The customer has separate contracts with SWB and the ISP.

The SWB ADSL service can be month to month or a 1 or 3 year
contract.  The ISPs have their own agreements.

7)  The SWB cost of the ADSL is:
    $59/month with no contract and a $100 installation charge
    $39/month with 1 year contract and no installation charge
    $39/month with 3 year contract and no installation charge

The ISP side is a T1 ATM UNI, a DS3 ATM UNI or an OC3 ATM UNI to the ISP
site.  This part must be negotiated with SWBell.  The University of Texas
expects rates from about $300 a month for one T1.  The other rates are not
available to us.

>We aren't seeing this, we have just in the last year started getting ISDN in
>the state.  We are still waiting on statewide deployment of the service.
>The Tariff proposed for DSL in our state was laughable.
>
>Ed
>New Mexico Technet
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-ascend-users@max.bungi.com
>[mailto:owner-ascend-users@max.bungi.com]On Behalf Of Bob Atkins
>Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 10:21 PM
>To: ascend-users@max.bungi.com
>Subject: (ASCEND) ISDN is dying out - DSL is killing it
>
>
>
>It is becoming painfully obvious to us that ISDN is going the way
>of the 9600 baud modem. We are seeing a steady migration of ISDN
>customers over to DSL service.
>
>Is anyone else seeing the same thing?
>
>---
>Bob Atkins
>DigiLink
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Thank you,

Wayne Wedemeyer
w.wedemeyer@utexas.edu
(512) 471-2454
fax (512) 471-2449


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