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Man who built ISP instead of paying Comcast expands to hundreds of homes (2022) (arstechnica.com)

577 points by voxadam · 472 days ago · 229 comments on HN

Article summary

Jared Mauch, a Michigan man, built his own fiber-to-the-home Internet provider, Washtenaw Fiber Properties LLC, after being unable to get good broadband service from major ISPs. He is now expanding his network to hundreds of homes with the help of $2.6 million in government funding. Mauch's network will provide 100Mbps symmetrical Internet with unlimited data for $55 a month and 1Gbps with unlimited data for $79 a month. The expansion will cover nearly 600 properties in rural Michigan.

Main themes

  • Community ISPs
  • Rural Broadband
  • Government Funding
  • ISP Competition
  • Fiber Optic Networks

What commenters say

  • Some commenters believe that community ISPs like Mauch's are the key to providing reliable and affordable internet access to rural areas, and that they can be more effective than large ISPs.
  • Others argue that the high cost of installing fiber optic networks, particularly in sparsely populated areas, makes it difficult for community ISPs to be sustainable.
  • There is a concern that large ISPs may try to acquire or shut down community ISPs, and that government regulations may favor the interests of large ISPs over those of community ISPs.
  • Some commenters think that satellite internet services like Starlink may be a viable alternative to traditional ISPs, but others argue that they have their own limitations and drawbacks.
  • The importance of cybersecurity is highlighted as a crucial aspect for small ISPs to focus on in order to protect their customers' data.
  • Community involvement and self-installation of internet infrastructure can be an effective way to reduce costs and increase adoption rates.
  • The economics of running a small ISP can be challenging, with high installation costs and limited scalability, but some argue that the benefits to the community make it a worthwhile endeavor.
  • Government policies and regulations can have a significant impact on the viability of community ISPs, and some argue that they often favor the interests of large ISPs over those of smaller providers.