Why switch from Spectrum/Starlink to Fidium?
​Fidium Fiber is for everyone and anyone that wants it. Symmetrical capacity (upload/download the same), greater reliability and no connection charges. PLUS ​Qualified ACP subscribers can get fiber service for FREE.

Compare DSL Internet & Landline Phone Costs to Fidium
Consolidated Communications (CCI)
1. DSL Internet - $35-55+ (~5Mbps/1Mbps)
2. Phone - $55
            TOTAL - $90+ 
Compare
Fidium Fiber​ (free installation) 
1. Fiber Internet - $30 first year (50Mbps/50Mbps) with other options as well
2. Phone (VOIP) - $15
           TOTAL - $65 
see additional benefits below

Coaxial cable vs. Fiber
Coaxial cable can NOT provide Symmetrical service (same upload/download). Only Fiber can do that.
1. All the Fiber advantages apply with no additional charges (i.e. $5 WIFI Modem). All is included and capacity/speed does not vary.
2. Spectrum uses fiber in its networks as Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC), but it does NOT go to the Premise where Coaxial Cable is used.
​There is no contest… Fiber wins out! Same comments as above & two articles on the subject. 
https://www.cvalley.net/fiber-optic-cable-vs-coaxial-cable-which-is-better/
https://www.fusionconnect.com/blog/fiber-vs-cable-internet-a-guide-to-the-differences-in-speed-cost-more

Fiber based Internet vs. Starlink?
Few circumstances make Starlink a better choice than Fiber
The Basics: 

1. Fiber is built on a pure Fiber Network using Laser technology to sending information at the virtual speed of light.
2. Fiber is Faster (Speed), with a ping rate of <20 milliseconds (ms) vs. ~50-100+ms.
3. Fiber has Capacity (Mbps) generally provided to consumers at up to 1-2 Gigabits per second (1,000-2000Mbps), or even more. 
4. Fiber provides Symmetrical (upload/download) capacity (i.e., 250/250Mbps). 
5. Fiber is more Reliable, unaffected by weather, trees, structures, electrical energy, etc.
6. Fiber service is not shared, maintaining consistent service and No Throttling of data. 
7. Fiber is suitable for critical services/technologies that require Consistent and Uninterrupted Capabilities. 
8. Fiber is Less Expensive for monthly service.
9. Simply put, Fiber is also Future Proof.  
10. Here are just two sources and the details.
    https://www.tachus.com/post/starlink-vs-fiber
    https://www.quora.com/Is-Starlink-better-than-fiber

Have Fidium Fiber Questions? 
​Others answered at - www.fidiumfiber.com - (see bottom of page).
​1. The Network Build is complete.
​2. Only installation cost is if you have to pay for additional conduit. 
3. Sign up NOW at www.fidiumfiber.com.  
4. Cost See www.fidiumfiber.com 
     a. FREE installation, no contract and symmetrical service (Download & Upload the same)
     b. Available $5 Discount to the costs below for Paperless & Auto Billing

Current Annual after 1st yr. (Special Offers available):
2,000 Mbps:  $85/mo for 1-yr   $95/mo after - 1 & 2 Gig symmetrical is the same cost after the first year!)
1,000 Mbps:  $70/mo for 1-yr   $95/mo after
   250 Mbps:  $60/mo for 1-yr   $85/mo after     
     50 Mbps:  $35/mo for 1-yr   $55/mo after
+ Add VOIP Phone for $15 and keep existing number.
​5. Cable type TV can be Streamed, replacing traditional "Cable TV" service - even Satellite TV. For streaming service that offers local stations there is Hulu+Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Streaming with Fubo TV and others catching up. You can pick what fits your needs. See Basics for more.
6. You can keep your phone number, shift your home number to your cell (some providers charge a fee!). Contact your provider for details and cost. VOIP provider coordination the transfer to minimize impact, generally at no cost!
​DO NOT switch until you have your Internet up and running!

The Hype on Cellular Services
Here is some information relative to Cellular service and issues you may be experiencing.

1. If your Cell service Stinks where you live and you have Fiber to the Premise/Home, Use WIFI Calling - Problem Solved! https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203032

            2. If you don’t have fiber, why not? It’s available to everyone on the Blue Hill Peninsula, Stonington, Deer Isle, Castine and more. It’s faster, better, and cheaper – period. www.fidiumfiber.com and order ONLINE!
            3. The location of towers still matters with poor coverage even where your provider may have a tower. Of note is that the closest ATT transmitter towers serving commercial cellular are in Belfast and Stonington. There is no ATT commercial service on Blue Hill Mountain as of July 2023, nor is there Verizon either. Sharing may occur. ATT is on Blue Hill Mtn. and elsewhere, but it is a service called FirstNet. 
                        a. “(Short) FirstNet is not a commercial network – it was designed and built “from the ground up” specifically for first responders and the extended public safety community: Groundbreaking technology delivering priority and preemption.”
            5. Despite the perceived availability and performance of 5G technology in cellular networks, the fallacy is that no one cellular carrier can service every cell phone, or at the same capacity (speed). Lots of factors matter in over-the-air systems (cellular (incl. hotspots) and satellite) which includes distance, terrain, obstructions, ground matter (i.e., granite), solar, EMP, and the 5G hype - all matters. Service will vary, and in some places, it will not exist at all. Bottom line is that 5G is not everywhere and it’s not all the hype says it is.
                        a. There are in fact three (3) different 5G services. The lowest capacity/frequency is what you’re seeing now, and it is realistically no better that 4G LTE at this point. The perception of 5G sells phones, but it is not a solution to home needs, speed/capacity, and cost. The highest frequency 5G (and capacity) only travels about 1000 ft. (that’s FEET). You need a transmitter on every utility pole – if they exist in your area and that is a long way off in rural America (see #1). For more specific, it’s out there  but here is one link - https://www.cablefree.net/wirelesstechnology/4glte/5g-frequency-bands-lte/

General Q&A

WHAT IS BROADBAND?
ANSWER: BROADBAND IS A CAPACITY/SPEED STANDARD THAT IS ESTABLISHED FOR THE INTERNET. THE FCC ESTABLISHES THAT BASELINE AND STATES MAY SET THEIR OWN. IN MAINE BROADBAND IS 100MBPS DOWNLOAD AND 100MBPS UPLOAD – SYMMETRICAL SERVICE. THE FCC BROADBAND STANDARD IS CURRENTLY 25/3 THOUGH THERE IS AN EFFORT BY SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS - LED BY SENATOR ANGUS KING (IN PART) - TO GET THE FCC INCREASE IT 100/100. ​

WHY WOULD I CHANGE FROM SPECTRUM (CATV)? – I THINK IT’S GOOD ENOUGH. 
ANSWER: IT MAY BE GOOD ENOUGH TODAY BUT TOMORROW? SPECTRUM CATV, WHICH IS BASED ON COPPER TECHNOLOGIES, HAS MAINTAINABILITY ISSUES AND TECHNOLOGY GROWTH LIMITATIONS THAT IS CHALLENGED BY THE CHANGING DEFINITION OF BROADBAND AND THE NEEDS OF USERS FOR INCREASING DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD SPEED/CAPACITY.  THEY ARE NOT UPGRADING COAXIAL (HFC) TO FIBER. ​
​
I DON’T USE THE INTERNET AT HOME – I JUST WATCH TV AND USE THE PHONE…
ANSWER: AS AN EXAMPLE – SPECTRUM TV COMES TO YOU OVER THE INTERNET – YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT. IN THE NEAR FUTURE PHONE COMPANIES (INCLUDING CCI) WILL BE MAKING A PUSH TO GET RID OF COPPER TECHNOLOGIES AND GO TO FIBER, AND VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP) WILL BECOME THE NORM. WHAT YOU USE TODAY WILL NOT BE WHAT YOU OR THOSE THAT MAY OWN YOUR HOME IN THE FUTURE WILL NEED OR USE.  ​

​WHAT’S BETTER ABOUT FIBER? WE’VE HAD COPPER FOR A LONG TIME. 
​ANSWER: EXACTLY – COPPER HAS BEEN AROUND A VERY LONG TIME, AND IT IS A MEDIUM THAT IS PRONE TO VARIATIONS IN MANUFACTURING AND DEGRADATION ISSUES THAT AFFECTS PERFORMANCE. THOSE VARIATIONS COME FROM MANUFACTURING, CORROSION, AS WELL AS EXTERNAL DAMAGE. FIBER IS GLASS AND IS PURE. IT RELIES ON LIGHT AND THE LASER’S CAPABILITIES DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE LIMITATIONS, NOT NECESSARILY THE FIBER. ​

WILL MY FIBER SERVICE BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT I HAVE NOW?
ANSWER: NO – BUT IT’S ALL RELATIVE. FIBER IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE OVERALL BECAUSE THE COST PER MEGA BIT IS LESS. THE BASE LEVEL OF SERVICE WILL ALSO BE BETTER THAN WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY WITH DSL, SATELLITE, OR CATV. WILL YOU PAY MORE? YOUR CHOSEN LEVEL OF SERVICE WILL DEFINE THAT ANSWER AND COST WILL BE A FACTOR THE DECISION PROCESS – ONE OF MANY. WE WANT THE COSTS TO BE AFFORDABLE, CAPABLE AND WITH NO DATA CAPS EITHER! ​

WHAT HAPPENS 10-20 YEARS FROM NOW? ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN?
ANSWER: NO. FIBER IS CONSIDERED FUTURE PROOF. IT’S PRIMARILY THE LASER’S CAPABILITIES (WHAT SENDS THE INFORMATION OVER THE FIBER) THAT DETERMINES THE PERFORMANCE LIMITATIONS. BUT YES- IMPROVEMENTS IN FIBER TECHNOLOGIES MAY SURPASS WHAT WE INSTALL BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHAT WE HAVE IS OBSOLETE. 
​WE DEAL WITH “MEGABITS” TODAY - TOMORROW IT’LL BE GIGABITS. AFTER THAT TERABITS AND BEYOND. FIBER CAN DO THAT AND LASER IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL. ​

I’M ONLY HERE PART OF THE YEAR AND DON’T NEED IT ALL THE TIME...
​ANSWER: You can go seasonal! FOR THOSE THAT USE SECURITY SYSTEMS, HAVE RENTERS, OR THAT DON’T WANT THE HASSLE OF STARTING OR STOPPING SERVICE THIS MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM. YOU HAVE A FUTURE PROOF INTERNET CONNECTION THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO MONITOR YOUR VALUABLE SEASONAL HOME MORE ECONOMICALLY YOURSELF.  ​

I JUST GOT STARLINK – WHY WOULD I CHANGE? 
​STARLINK WAS BUILT FOR THOSE PLACES HARD TO REACH VIA WIRED SERVICE OR THOSE AREAS WHERE INTERNET CAPACITIES ARE POOR BECAUSE OF EXISTING SERVICE – LIKE DSL. IT IS NOT TARGETED FOR CABLE TV USERS AND MOST DEFINITELY NOT FIBER USERS. Elon would think you're crazy to keep Starlink!
1. STARLINK IS AFFECTED BY THE ENVIRONMENT AS A WIRELESS SERVICE AND RELIES ON SPACE-BASED EQUIPMENT WITH LATENCY ISSUES FIBER DOES NOT HAVE.
2. SOME WEATHER SITUATIONS WILL DEGRADE IT – SO WILL TREES AND OTHER OBSTACLES, SO IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, NOR WAS IT PLANNED TO BE.
3. THE COST FOR FIBER IS FAR LESS PER MEGABIT THAN STARLINK WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AND STARLINK IS NOT SYMMETRICAL.

WHY DO I NEED SYMMETRICAL - OR WHY DOES ANYONE?
Answer (one of many) - Symmetrical allows someone or some thing sending information to have the information transmitted on an equal basis with the entity sending the information in other direction. Every transmission is treated equally. One Example: a Doctor operating takes an action and see's the action visually even though it might have physically occurred thousands of miles away. Timing counts - think of a hearing test over the internet. Another example: You are communicating with another - be it verbally or a game and your action requires a counter action as if you were in the same room. 100/10 means your block happens but it is never in time - always late. 100/100 you are in synch and see and respond at the same time.

WILL WIRELESS REPLACE FIBER?
​Every internet/cellular/streaming (i.e. TV) service uses fiber and wireless will never replace fiber - though it may be more cost effective to build wireless services that are fed by fiber technologies. Call someone 3,000 miles away on your cell phone (as an example) - it goes to the nearest tower that serves your phone provider (roaming or otherwise). It then goes via fiber to the tower nearest the person you are calling - via fiber - and then to their phone. ALL undersea cables are fiber and all satellite services use fiber to get information to the ground station that sends and receives information from satellites and which then transmits it to the appropriate station, that then transmits that information to a satellite, that then serves the intended receiver of the information. Speed of light (enabler) and line of sight (LoS) (restrictor).