In response to recent letters from Marion County residents that discussed the quality of internet and cable TV service in the area, a few Ocala residents wrote in to share their thoughts on the topic.
“Hi everyone. I agree with every comment that I have read. We have Dish and they charge us as if we have premium channels, and what they show constantly is paid programming. Our internet service is AT&T and it is slower than dial-up. Supposedly we have ‘high speed’ internet. We need better, and more, options that are not going to leave our pockets dry.
Channels that were once free, years ago, we now have to pay for. It is totally ridiculous. Stream channels? Yeah, okay. I had AT&T come out and check the lines. I was told there is nothing they can do about speed because they are at max capacity. So, fiber optic was suggested. Sure, if they pay for it, let’s do it. Good grief,” says Ocala resident Marta Varnell.
“I recently moved here from Washington state. I had a remote job lined up, but when I got here and moved into the house I currently bought, there is only Viasat (satellite internet) or CenturyLink that maxes out at 10mb. In order to keep a work-at-home job, you need at least 30mb. When I called Xfinity (my service provider in Washington), they had assured me I would be able to keep service with them. But when I got here, they said they didn’t come where I was. I feel that as Marion County expands, it needs to expand its internet business if it wants to keep growing and be able to compete to keep up with the rest,” says Angel Anton, Ocala resident.
“For a city as big and spread out as Ocala, our internet and TV providers are awful. This city seems to have blinders on as to the growth here,” says Ocala resident Marilyn Lefoy.
Would you like to share your thoughts with us? Share them in a comment or by writing a Letter to the Editor.