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Cable companies losing stranglehold on apartments

by Steven Kim posted May 29th 2009 at 1:14PM

Throwing TVIt's no secret that loads of folks loathe their cable company, but for some apartment dwellers, there's exactly one choice of service providers for TV, internet, and/or phone service. See, cable companies in some areas (read - anywhere they can) have negotiated exclusive distribution rights in buildings that they wired up, keeping other services at bay. Well, those castle walls are crumbling as a the Court of Appeals in Washington has upheld the 2007 FCC ruling that banned such practices as anticompetitive. Don't expect this decision to revamp the entire landscape -- cable companies are well-versed in how to keep competition down -- but this decision should make it easier for offerings like FiOS and U-verse to make inroads to dense metro areas. If all that's standing between you and FiOS is a shady cable company arrangement, now's your time to grab some fiber!

[Image courtesy Videogum]

Ask Engadget HD: Best home theater setup for small spaces?

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 29th 2009 at 1:00PM Featured Story


Let's face it, not everyone has $60k to drop on a dream home theater, and even they did, might not have a place to put it. If space is your major constraint, like our guy Geoff, achieving the best setup can be quite trying:

"In a previous lifetime circa early 2000s, I had a dedicated media room and the latest in technology. I'm closer to the city now and square-footage is a premium. Knowing that I'll likely be in an apartment/townhome/condo for the foreseeable future, should I try to use some of my old components (listed below) or just sell them and start new? Keep in mind that I doubt I'll be able to mount any rear channels, so I'm thinking the setup with either have to include rear satellites or be a 2.1 system. I don't require a movie theater-like experience, rather something that's extremely solid for movies, music and gaming.

-- Sony STR-DE945 receiver from 2000 (i.e., no HDMI)
-- Klipsch Quintet 5.1 Home Theater circa 2000
-- No Blu Ray player
-- Xbox 360 Elite and, sadly, HD DVD add-on
-- Samsung 42-inch LCD (perfectly fine)

I've been following the new HTIB offerings from Sony and LG, thinking those might be the answer since my budget is probably around $600, not including whatever I can make on the sale of the above. The Sony system seemed attractive since Blu Ray was incorporated."

There it is, we know your palatial estate is covered with inflatable screens and the like, but condo and apartment dwellers need love too, and not at too high of a price. Let us know what you'd put in that type of space.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Verizon gears up for FiOS rollout in 27,000 Aimco apartments

by Darren Murph posted Nov 25th 2008 at 6:24AM


It's incredibly obvious that one of Verizon's main opportunities for growth in FiOS TV is locking down contracts with housing facilities and apartment complexes, and while we've seen some small to medium-scale rollouts before, this one takes things to a whole 'nother level. Last year, the provider inked a deal with Aimco that would eventually bring fiber-based FiOS services to residents of some 27,000 apartments in 11 states across the nation. Now, 100 Aimco properties from coast to coast will be lit up with FiOS TV / internet / digital voice services prior to the onset of 2009, and that should make for quite a few happy tenants this holiday season.

[Image courtesy of Apts247]

Verizon gets FiOS TV / high-speed internet into Bronx's Parkchester complex

by Darren Murph posted Oct 21st 2008 at 8:14PM


And so it begins. It appears that the FCC's efforts to facilitate programming competition for apartments last year have been successful, with Verizon inking its second contract with a New York-based complex this month. This time, the agreement is with Parkchester, the largest privately owned condominium complex in the US. The deal will bring Verizon's FiOS TV and high-speed internet to residents of Parkchester in the Bronx, giving some 12,271 apartments in 171 buildings access to a fiber-based alternative. As you could likely guess, this is the provider's largest agreement ever in the urban multiple-dwelling-unit market, and while a specific date wasn't mentioned, everything should go live before the end of 2008.

Verizon's FiOS TV coming to Yonkers apartment buildings

by Darren Murph posted Oct 9th 2008 at 1:40PM


Around this time last year, we heard that the FCC was looking to facilitate programming competition for apartments, and apparently, it has succeeded. Just this week, Verizon proudly announced that its FiOS TV programming service was on the way to residents in 2,029 Yonkers public housing apartments. In total, 18 buildings will get gifted with the fiber-based services (TV and high-speed internet), and the carrier has already begun the build-out of the necessary fiber network. There's no word on when or if a similar agreement could take other apartment complexes by storm, but it appears the biggest hurdle has been lifted.

DISH Optical Network to bring service to apartments

by Darren Murph posted May 1st 2008 at 4:33PM

For many answering our latest inquiry, switching from cable to satellite simply isn't possible. If you're stuck in an apartment or other form of multiple dwelling unit, there's at least a fighting chance that your landlord won't allow the drilling and such typically required to get a dish installed. To that end, DISH Network will soon be rolling out its DISH Optical Network service, which essentially takes satellite delivered material beamed to "a group of dishes" and pipes the content over fiber lines to up to 128 subscribers. Needless to say, this could be a real boon for leasers who only have a limited selection for programming, but sadly, we'll be forced to wait until rollouts begin in undisclosed locales "later this year" before wrapping our heads around a price.

[Via The Capital Times, image courtesy of Sat Pro Atlanta]

Arlington, VA's Liberty Tower Apartments pre-wired with FiOS

by Darren Murph posted Mar 27th 2008 at 11:03PM

As if it wasn't official enough already, here goes: the fiber carriers are on the hunt looking for new dwellings to incorporate their services into. Just a week after hearing that Indiana's Harrison Square condominiums would be available with FiOS TV / internet from day one, we've now received word that Liberty Tower Apartments in Arlington, Virginia is offering the same. Reportedly, a tipster laid down a deposit on a unit and was informed by the staff that Verizon's fiber-based services would be available if he (and any other resident) wanted. So yeah, if you're thinking of relocating and you've been itching to try fiber, it may not be such a bad idea to call around beforehand and see if you get lucky.

[Thanks, Daniel]

Verizon aims to compete with cable in Newburgh, New York

by Darren Murph posted Dec 17th 2007 at 7:40PM


It's not like New York is hurtin' for FiOS TV or anything, but the latest news involving the two revolves around a bit more than just expansion of service. Just under two months after the FCC approved a rule that would ban exclusive agreements that cable television operators have with apartment buildings, the New York Public Service Commission has issued an order "confirming Verizon's video franchise with the town." Reportedly, such an order will enable consumers in the Orange County town of Newburgh to have "a real choice for their cable television service" when FiOS TV arrives sometime next year. Additionally, Verizon has secured video franchises in 75 other NY communities, all of which are conveniently listed in the read link below.

FCC treats apartment dwellers to cable competition

by Darren Murph posted Oct 31st 2007 at 1:58PM

We realize what day it is, but we're pretty certain the FCC isn't messing around on this one. Right on cue, regulators have "approved a rule that would ban exclusive agreements that cable television operators have with apartment buildings, opening up competition for other video providers that could eventually lead to lower prices." The move was apparently "unanimously approved," and Chairman Kevin Martin went on to say that there was simply "no reason that consumers living in apartment buildings should be locked into one service provider." Not surprisingly, a spokeswoman for Comcast proclaimed that "many consumers were likely to wind up paying more for services if the FCC's interference in the competitive marketplace stands," but it's fairly safe to assume Verizon and AT&T see things very differently.

FCC looking to facilitate programming competition for apartments

by Darren Murph posted Oct 30th 2007 at 3:50AM

Apartment dwellers frustrated with the outright lack of choices when it comes to selecting a content provider may soon be feeling relief, as the FCC is expected to approve a new rule that would "throw out exclusive cable television service contracts with apartment buildings and open up competition to phone companies." Supposedly, the new regulation "could significantly lower cable prices for millions of subscribers who live in apartment buildings and have had no choice in selecting a company for paid television," and of course, the execs at Verizon and AT&T are likely licking their chops at the notion of being able to steal away precious market share while potentially providing a cost savings to boot. Granted, some states already have provisions in place to prevent landlords and tenant associations from inking exclusive deals with cable providers, but for those currently stuck in a "take it or leave it" situation, all that could be changing in the very near future.

[Via AP / Yahoo]




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