PACCESS is a broadband-based, high speed connection to the Internet. Unlike cable access, PACCESS is basically a "direct plug" into the Internet pipeline. The subscriber is the sole user of that line. With cable access, you share your connection with all your neighbors who are on the same circuit. The more cable users active at once, the more the broadband strength is reduced and the speed goes WAY down. With PACCESS, your connection is never affected by other users as your line is only used by you. If you are a current DSL subscriber, you do not need to do anything. Your change to PACCESS is automatic. If you do not have Internet access through Pembroke Telephone and want to order PACCESS, just call Customer Service at 653-4389. You will get free installation with your contract order for any PACCESS service level. You can also get a wireless network for your house at the same time at a big discount over regular wireless network rates! Just contact Customer Service for all the details.
PACCESS is currently rated at connection speeds of up to 10 megabits per second (download), or Mbps, depending on your location. That is almost DOUBLE what some of the competition tries to offer on its best days. Because this is a new product, not all subscribers have yet been updated. Currently, more than 95% of our broadband customers reside in upgraded system areas, however, PACCESS speeds may be affected by your physical location and others services in your home.
While we strive to provide all services (telephone, broadband, television) to every household in the North Bryan County area, there may be isolated instances where, due to location, all services may not be provided. In those instances, Pembroke Telephone will provide the best available service.
Pembroke Telephone uses two methods of providing broadband signals: copper wire and fiber optic cable. Copper, the traditional method, can carry multiple data streams at current speeds currently limited to 10 Mbps for residential accounts. One strand of fiber, about the size of a human hair, can carry a huge number of separate data streams at speeds also currently limited to 10 Mbps for residential accounts. Pembroke Telephone is constantly expanding and improving its fiber optic network throughout Northern Bryan County.
Depending on which PACCESS level you have, yes. PACCESS works to achieve a consistent connection speed between you and the Internet. With cable Internet access, you never know what you are going to get. All you have to do is just read their "fine print." While they say you might get speeds of "up to" 6 Mbps, chances are it may be slower - a lot slower! Cable Internet access is greatly affected by the use of other subscribers in your area. You might get a promised speed at night when all you neighbors are asleep. But try using your cable access around 7:00 p.m., when your neighbor's teenager is downloading songs for his iPod and the other neighbor is watching an online video of his cousin's vacation. Your access will come to a grinding slowdown. With PACCESS, it is your own access line - you never have to share bandwidth again.
All Internet access, regardless of provider, is best effort service. There are many factors that may affect speed, such as general data traffic on the Internet beyond our area, physical line interruptions and residence wiring conditions. Some things that happen far beyond Northern Bryan County are just beyond anyone's control.
It will cost LESS! PACCESS is a new product that uses several system upgrades and new technologies, including one based on a TELSTRAT platform. As areas are upgraded, our old DSL services will be eliminated. With the new technology, we are able to offer the new Broadband Internet access service at much higher speeds and at a lower price. Our previous Standard 256k DSL was priced at $52.90 a month. PACCESS is just $39.99 a month, a savings of almost 25 percent. With our PACCESS package, you get blazing fast connection speeds, up to five email addresses and 20 MB of web storage space so you can create and host your own Web site - and all for less than $40 a month.
Yes! By bundling PACCESS with your telephone and television, you will save even more. Savvy Pembroke Telephone subscribers can bundle telephone, PAC Long Distance, PAC TV and PACCESS Internet access and get a total communication services package for about $100 a month. That is NOT an introductory price - you will have all your services for the life of the bundle at that one combined price.
Only in good ways! Because of our cutting edge system upgrades, Pembroke Telephone is able to provide more broadband volume more effectively. Since PAC TV uses a broadband-based technology to deliver its signal to you, this expansion of volume will only enhance and improve the quality of PAC TV. This technology will also enable Pembroke Telephone to provide more advanced services through PAC TV in the very near future.
