Not sure I understand how an answer to the question as asked will help you. Even if someone reports success, how likely is it that the same combination of providers and their offerings will be available at your location? My guess is slim and none. If you already have Cablevision (meaning you are not a new customer), I'd suggest comparing competitor prices in your area then call them and try to negotiate a better rate for what you have. Many people do this and are successful. It shouldn't take much of your time and the worst they can do is say no.

As Az reports it is very difficult to give a responsible generic answer to your concern.

Consumer Reports has had several articles in the last year or so as to provider evaluation, bundles, and cutting costs. Some of these articles may be available by Googlng "consumer report bundle" (sans quotes) for example. However, I can assure you they will not all be available for free, nor will they be the definitive answer. As always information is a learning tool.

If you cannot retrieve a pertinent edition from a friend or relative perhaps your local library may be able to assist.

DA

I'm assuming from your location listed on your personal page, Bertman, that you live in western CT. If that's the case...I think you should discuss your bundle needs with Litchfield Cablevision/Optimum. They're offering all manner of services...WI-fi included...these days that weren't available as late as 2013. As a matter of fact...their upgrading, etc is driving me bonkers lately because either they or the road repairmen working in my area have been causing service delays and slowness. But...beyond that minor annoyance...I'm very satisfied with the package I have.

I don't use/need their WI-fi service but I do have all my other communication needs...including my land line phone... bundled with them and have had for several years. Give them a call or visit their Litchfield office. I think you'll be pleased with the bundles they offer...and their prices.

Just to be fair...AT&T offers similar packages in this area...but I, personally, due to my own past experiences with them...wouldn't sign up with them if the only other communications choice I had was smoke signals.

Anne

When scoping out a project, have you ever heard the expression " Quality - Price - Speed, Pick any two" ? For procuring telecom services as you describe, it's more like "Quality - Price, Pick one".

The availability, pricing and quality of choices is very, very location dependent. Urban/suburban/rural, new or old neighborhood, high or low density or in between, etc. What's the right choice where you live might not be the right choice 10 miles away.

For me, quality at a fair price is most important. I found through trial and error that no one supplier in my area met my needs, so I have each service from a different company. The opposite of a bundle.

Maybe in your case one specific service is what's most important to you, and the other pieces are less important. You need to decide and explore your options. Fortunately, you can get 12 month contracts so that you can change your mind if your choice doesn't work out.

I would not venture recommendations or sugestions.

Here is what we have: TracFone

RCA OTA antenna

ATT DSL (Had to fuss with them to get the phone removed and leave the DSL. Many billing errors, always politely corrected.)

Netflix

Thats it.

This post was edited by albert_135 on Sat, Jul 5, 14 at 10:12

I have been with Cox Cable for 27 years and 1 month so they tell me when I call with a question. I have a land line and their slowest internet and I am very happy with their service always have been. I have never had a contract with them, even when I got my land line back. I got 2 years of their best phone service for $9. a month without a contract. I did cancel TV, because I I don't watch TV anymore. I saved $100. plus and invested that money in movies. I don't do contracts and I will never use ATT because if they get your address they never stop hounding you. My neighbor went to the store to get help with her phone and they tried to sell her service, she said no. A few days later a service man called to come and switch her to ATT. That happened twice before she called a manager and got it stopped.

I had not heard good things about Charter cable, but when we moved to our present location, we had that choice for TV, so we figured we'd just try bundling TV, Internet, and house phone. I have cellular service through Verizon. We have been very pleased with our TV (digital/HD), and the phone service is just great (unless Internet goes out, but that has happened only once, and briefly). One time I could not make an Internet connection and I called them, almost positive it was the modem. As it turned out, the modem was defective and a new modem has provided much faster service than I was getting. I am very happy with our bundled service with no contract whatever. Compared to the three different providers we had at our former home, the cost is definitely less.

Don't forget to review local providers if you have any, and don't go by just the big name.

Out here in my neck of rural America the Comcast TV cable that goes past my home, and ends just down the road, is service generations behind urban America. It has limited channel offerings, and no HD. Thus, Directv is my source and after 18 years is getting too expensive.

ATT offers telephone only here, and they should hold a gun and wear a mask for what they charge; $83.70 a moth for unlimited nationwide long distance. I am going to be looking into their home wireless which will be $35.00 for the same service.

I have local cellphone service, wish I didn't have to have one, and the 3G plan I use is bare bones with the cost less than half of the big boys at $35.00 a month. This includes 500 minutes and 3 unlimited nationwide long distance numbers which I have assigned to my children.

My 4G wireless Internet connection comes from them too. A little pricey at $60.00 month for 20GB, but it roars and is reliable.

As I have shared before I live in my area's Bermuda Triangle for electronic services so no bundles are available.I just cope with what is available.

DA

DA, does the cable line that passes your house provide an internet service? If yes, have you considered using that to provide access to the many free or cheap VoIP or other "phone" solutions (Google Talk, Ooma, Skype) for your home calling?

I understand there are places there's really no alternative, but otherwise the market for POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service, the industry's term) is dying at an accelerating rate. People, especially the under-40 set, increasingly find that they need no more service than what their cellphones provide. For those who want more, the alternatives to using the phone company are more attractive and often less expensive.

Nope.

I honestly do believe that some day there will be an administrative complaint or a class action lawsuit resulting due to providers foot dragging as to providing services to rural areas.

Cost effectiveness will not be the issue. The existing communication laws will be.

Will I be alive? Probably not.

DA