T1 Internet Service Prices and Rates Quotes in Edwardsport

Momentum Builds for CLECs

Thursday September 25, 2008, 07:17 pm ET

DRAPER, Utah, Sep. 25 /Patrick Oborn/ -- Higher productivity for small to medium sized businesses is just around the corner thanks to commercial grade broadband services that are now being delivered at a fraction of their previous cost. Due to the ever increasing competitive marketplace and a mad dash to consolidate networks, telecoms are offering their premium business services to small businesses for a fraction of what they used to cost just a few years ago. Businesses who use more than four regular phone lines can now upgrade to dynamic integrated T-carrier circuits for the same price.

Prior to the advent of the "all digital" integrated T-1 in 2005, customers only had one choice when it came to dedicated service: analog trunks (24 line bundles). Not only where analog trunks expensive - the average cost ranging from $800 to $1500 per month depending on the user's geographic proximity to the LECs point of presence - they could not re-allocate unused voice channels to carry data. Digital trunks, on the other hand, can reclaim voice lines not in use and put them to work carrying high-speed data packets. That means users enjoy the full 1.5 Mbps of broadband when they are not on the phone.

One might think that, given the cost - benefit analysis of the integrated T1 value proposition, more businesses would be changing over to the new platform. However, the rate of adaptation is rather slow. Rob Butler, head of the Telecommunications Research Institute, thinks that "phone companies have a problem with trust amongst their user base. For many years, customers have dealt with increasing rates, long hold times, and frustration in general. Now, it appears, the ice is finally starting to melt and customers are opening themselves up to new technology.

"What we're seeing here is the Bells holding their prices steady and milking their high margins on POTS (plain old telephone service) lines for as long as possible. With the lower prices being offered by CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) on dynamic integrated T-carrier services, the Bells are scrambling to keep pace before enterprises realize they can actually save money by upgrading to bigger and more reliable circuits." commented Don Rosebush, industry expert.

The only thing that can get in the way of future progress is the law. You know, the one that requires the RBOCs to lease their local loops to CLECs at a reduced rate so that the customer can get a dedicated connection between their office and the CLECs' network. If the FCC decided to lift this requirement, this whole deck of cards could come down in a hurry, and when it does, you can kiss dynamic integrated T1 service for under $500 good bye! Once a forgotten segment of the business telecommunication landscape, small to medium size businesses are finally being serviced with products (like the dynamic integrated T1 line) at prices they can afford. Gone are the days when the Bells can shove TDM services down the collective throats of SMB's at prices that resemble a mortgage rather than a telephone service.