Updated

Updated · WFMJ · Jul 14

Brightspeed Adds Copper Internet Surcharge in Howland as Tax and Repair Costs Rise

Updated

Updated · WFMJ · Jul 14

Brightspeed Adds Copper Internet Surcharge in Howland as Tax and Repair Costs Rise

1 articles · Updated · WFMJ · Jul 14

Howland customers on Brightspeed’s copper internet network began seeing a new tax recovery surcharge on July bills, prompting complaints that led the township to clarify it is not imposing any new property tax.
Brightspeed said the fee is meant to offset taxes tied to delivering service over copper, which it says is becoming costlier to maintain as parts grow harder to find.
The company also pointed to copper’s exposure to weather damage and degradation, saying outages can be disruptive and repairs are handled as quickly and safely as possible.
Eligible homes and businesses can switch to Brightspeed’s fixed wireless voice and internet service, which the company says can often be deployed faster than fiber.

Sources

Is the new surcharge on old tech a fair fee or a strategy to force customers into upgrading their internet service?

Can 5G fixed wireless truly replace wired internet, or will users trade copper's problems for signal drops and slowdowns?

As carriers abandon copper lines, who ensures critical systems like fire alarms and elevators don't fail during the transition?

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