I don't think there is any need to bash or complain about Comcast for their services any longer. I recently signed up for the EPB fiber optics services on the day I got a banner at my home, that the fiber optic cable was available on my street now. I called only 30 minutes after the banner was hung and to my delight was able to talk with a lady that was very nice, courteous and spoke perfect English. She took all my information and told me the day and time the installers would arrive to finish installing for the TV, internet and phone service inside my home, and that a crew would come by to install the boxes on the side of my home.

I left shortly after that call and returned a couple of hours later from grocery shopping. EPB contractors had already been to my home and installed the boxes on the side of the house. Yes, super fast service.

The day the installers came to complete the inside installation, they were on time, courteous and knew just what needed to be done to complete the install. One of the men even told me of a problem with my A/C heating unit duct work underneath my home which needed to be looked about soon. The men cleaned all the areas they worked in, made sure all my services worked correctly and asked if I had any questions they could answer before they left. Both men did a fantastic job and worked quickly to complete the work.

The pictures on our TVs never looked so great, the audio sounds wonderful also. Our telephone service is perfect and works just like anyone's phone should. I enjoy the internet service most of all. I got the Fi-Internet 20. It is so fast and works great.

I have had to call twice this week to get the support group to help me with my internet connections and both times I have gotten a person who really helped me with my problems. They spoke perfect English, knew where I lived and what services I had from EPB. It is so nice to talk with our hometown folks and know they wanted to help myself in getting all I pay for in their services.

I just read where I was one of the first of 5,000 people to have their services installed in my home. Believe me, I am so thankful that EPB has the TV, internet and phone services. I have seen so many ads from their competitors with special prices for this or that. I am just glad to have the services of EPB services myself.

John Appling
East Lake Area

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Like so many people, I have been looking forward to the availability of EPB Internet and cable TV service in my area. I am very disappointed, however, to see the prices posted on the EPB website.

Much as I would love to enjoy the local, customer-friendly service that seems to be the main selling point of EPB, I simply cannot justify the increased pricing as compared to Comcast. These are, after all, challenging economic times for the average customer. I am surprised to see that EPB’s pricing is simply not, in my opinion, competitive.

According to my reading, the Internet service most common to the average household is priced per month at approximately $43 for Comcast, and $58 for EPB. The cable TV package I believe most families would consider to be “standard” is priced at $55 for Comcast and $66 for EPB. Extra set-top boxes compare at $5 Comcast and $7 EPB. I have no need for phone service from either company, which makes any potential “bundle” savings unavailable to me. For my family, that amounts to an approximate $30 increase in my monthly budget to keep service comparable to my current Comcast — that is, when EPB service becomes available in my area.

I can put up with a lot of aggravation for $360 a year, although I must admit my personal irritations with Comcast have been minor compared to many of the stories I have heard and read. In fact, all of the Comcast technicians who have ever worked at my home have been courteous and competent, as have many — though not all — of the customer service representatives with whom I have had telephone exchanges. I know I have been fortunate in that regard, but even if my experiences had been of the irritating and even outrageous sort experienced by way too many customers, even then I do not believe I would switch providers in exchange for $30 per month of southern hospitality.

I hope that by the time EPB’s services reach my area, the charges become more competitive. Otherwise, I will continue to be a Comcast customer — and will also wonder if EPB’s extensive advertising campaign and rush to be online as quickly as possible may have served to make their services impractical for my family.

Karen Walden Simpson
Signal Mountain

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I have truly enjoyed having EPB’s Fiber Optic Services compared to Comcast. By the time Comcast charged me for all their so called fees and taxes it added about $20 to what I signed up to pay per month. I do pay a little more for fiber optic, but I get a lot more channels than with Comcast. I would have had to have a special package, on top of my regular cable, in order to watch. Plus the internet service is much quicker with fiber optic versus cable.

When I called to sign up for fiber optic service I ask if they had specials and was told they prefer to give the customer a fixed rate versus other companies that have specials that you sign up for and months down the road your rate goes up. This way the customer always knows what their bill is going to be. Oh, and my taxes come to $8. I am loving EPB’s Fiber Optic services and would recommend them to everyone. Much, much better than Comcast any day of the week.

Marlene Smith