Sonic.net

customerInExcelsior wrote:

So let me get this straight the same users who complain about subsidizing somebody else build out and are quitting in throngs are ok with somebody else subsidizing their build out and then coming back ? #LogicFTW.

Why not? Some of those now signing up for Sonic Fiber may have chosen Comcast precisely because of poor Sonic speeds, and now that Fiber is being deployed, they're jumping (back) on the bandwagon. I know this is the case for at least one person because my friend left Sonic when he moved. He signed up for Comcast because he went from 12Mbps with Sonic to 2.5Mbps (max) at his new location. Do you fault someone who telecommutes for jumping off the bandwagon when they can't get a solid 2Mbps without constant resyncs? I don't - I call it common (consumer) sense. If I were Sonic, would I blame him for "leeching" off of other Sonic subscribers now that he's signed up for Fiber? I wouldn't because I'd be happy to have him back as a paying customer.

I am not including new users in this equation as it is not their fault they joined just now but since they joined they are now contributing to the future build out ... so they are doing something good

So how is it that those who come back aren't in the same boat of contributing to the future build out?

... also if you read Dane's post carefully you would notice he mentions it several times that the reason for increase is that they don't have enough capital to continue the build out so leaving is now is like shooting yourself in the leg , by leaving you are hindering progress of the build out ... therefore ultimately you are hindering yourself or the guy next door from getting fiber.

Sure, but Sonic is a business, not an NGO, co-op, nor commune. It's great that they have fans - I'm still rooting for them - but they provide a service in exchange for hard-earned dollars. They are *NOT* the only company working towards better connectivity options for Bay Areans either, so I don't think anyone is doing their community any harm if they jumped to LMI (an ISP that is deploying fiber in the East Bay) or Monkeybrains (a SF WISP that would love to micro-trench fiber).

Also as a counter argument one could argue that " haves " should not be paying for " have nots " basically speaking using the same logic that " have nots " are using and reversing it ... give me one good reason why somebody who already has fiber should be paying for somebody who doesn't ? If I already have my " toy " what reason aside from being an altruist is there for me to subsidize the " have nots " ?

To use another analogy, that's "robbing" (or "extorting") from the poor and giving to the rich, which is why so many people are averse to the idea.

As for me being a member I have two residences in San Francisco ( both of them in the avenues area ) one used to be my primary address till I got married and moved out ( my parents took over my old lease and live at my old place now ) . We have been sonic customers at my old residence since the last few months of 2009 ( would have to look up exact date but as far as I remember it was 10/2009 ) and at my new residence since 2 years ago when I moved in there with my wife . I have also converted 3 friends to sonic and advocated for Sonic at city hall meetings and my local community meetings ( which lead to some more people joining in ) so yeah I think I " contributed " enough

I applaud you for your enthusiastic support - both financially and in community meetings - and I can understand your frustration with what you perceive to be an inequity of contributions to Sonic's mission, as well as your concern that others would be left out. Your dismissive tone is doing nothing to convince them to stay, however.

The method by which Sonic decides where to build out Fiber is far from equitable - although definitely sustainable for the business. Customers in low(er)-uptake areas are asked to rally on Sonic's behalf, very often in great futility because those areas are generally under-served by Sonic and will continue to be under-served, as they aren't provably, economically viable. Customers in those areas should not have to rally the troops to sign up for inferior service so that Sonic can be convinced to deploy their infrastructure to their neighborhoods - they should convinced to sign up/stay with compelling value, and not some vague promise. If I were to rally the troops, I'd much rather create a co-op to augment Sonic's efforts, as they will not be deploying Fiber to the Southeastern districts of SF anytime soon.

I'll put my money where my mouth is again, though - if Sonic wants to crowd-source Fiber roll-outs (the right way, with minimal risk to business and customer), I'm willing to pay a $2,500 installation fee (like I did with Monkeybrains) if they'll deploy in my neighborhood within the next six months. I'm sure there would be many others like me at lower pledge points. In this regard, Monkeybrains has done a much better job of convincing adopters to sign up, as there is a measurable benefit on both sides of the transaction. I'm rehashing my older statements and arguments, but so are you.

dane wrote:What are we doing?

Since launching in 2010, Fusion broadband and phone service has remained at a fixed price, with the standard level of residential service costing $40 monthly. Now, as we head into 2017, we are implementing our first Fusion price increase, ever. Beginning in February, the price for Sonic’s Fusion services will increase by $10 monthly.
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keaton wrote: 1) It would have been simple to just add a notification to the email invoice-receipt and more reliable than a separate email, as I would have noticed if I did not receive the expected invoice-receipt.

Sonic's mission is to deliver fast, uncapped and unlimited service
for a fair price, with the ultimate goal of delivering Gigabit
service over Sonic fiber. Since its launch in 2010, Fusion
broadband and phone service's price has remained the same even
though we've invested in new features and added value. However,
we've found it necessary to increase the price by between $10.00
and $10.05 a month for renewals starting in February. This
increase will support our continued growth, ongoing fiber
construction projects and over 350 local employees.