What is internet throttling and how do I check for it?

What is internet throttling and how do I check for it?

March 27, 2019 , , ,

Did you know that ISPs are required to disclose certain aspects of their service to their customers, including things like data throttling? Here’s what that means, and why Softcom will never participate in blocking or throttling internet access for its customers.

Throttling is when an internet service provider (ISP) purposely slows down your connection speeds. We’ve rounded up the following information about throttling to educate our readers about this practice, give you the tools you need to research and take action, and assure you that Softcom does not participate in this practice.

Kristy CooperWhat is internet throttling and how do I check for it?
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What internet speed do I need?

What internet speed do I need?

January 11, 2019 , , , ,

Signing up for internet service is easy. Deciding on the speed and level of service you want? That can be the hard part. Some of the most frequently asked questions we get are about understanding the difference in our 4G LTE plans, especially when it comes to connection speeds.

Here at Softcom, we don’t sell plans based on data usage because we offer true unlimited data for our customers, no matter what plan they choose and without affecting the speed of service. Other companies don’t do this, and in fact will reduce connection speeds once their customers exceed their set data caps within a billing cycle. Depending on how much streaming or data-consuming work is done from the home or office, this could result in a week or two of fast speeds, followed by frustratingly slower connections until the billing cycle resets.

Kristy CooperWhat internet speed do I need?
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How to find the best rural internet service provider for you

How to find the best rural internet service provider for you

December 4, 2018 ,

If reliable internet is a priority, then finding the best provider and services near you should be too. If you live in Galt or communities throughout Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties area, we’ve got you covered. If you’re from outside our service area, though, and want to find the best options for you, here’s some tips.

When people want to find an internet service provider for rural areas located nearby they often sit down at the computer and type in the search “internet service provider near me” or “rural internet services near me.” That’s a good place to start and likely to get you a list of results in your area. But narrowing it down even more is essential.

The next thing you need to do to find the best provider to fit your needs is to focus your search even more. Some people try to do this by searching for “best rural internet service for me” or “best internet provider for me.” That’s OK, and you might even get some good results worth looking into, but there are more steps to be taken after that using the power of your mind and not Google.

Kristy CooperHow to find the best rural internet service provider for you
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California vineyards and high-speed internet – a perfect pairing

California vineyards and high-speed internet – a perfect pairing

October 23, 2018 , ,

How technology can help make a better wine

It takes a perfect synergy of elements to make a great wine. The right kind of soil, perfect weather conditions, healthy grapes and a productive harvest are all part of the process. While winemaking has been around for centuries, and vintners still depend on many traditional methods to make a great wine, technology is making inroads into vineyards and proving its value in helping to make a better wine.

Kristy CooperCalifornia vineyards and high-speed internet – a perfect pairing
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The Overlooked Advantages of Softcom

The Overlooked Advantages of Softcom

October 11, 2018 , , , , ,

Our ability to provide strong and speedy internet connections is about much more than just towers and techies. We’ve got a lot going on behind the scenes that helps us stand out from the crowd. From in-person customer service with people who feel like family, to no-tricks contracts and super-speedy installation, we go the extra mile to give our customers the very best.

We invite you to take a peek behind the curtain at a few of the things that make our internet services for rural homes, businesses and communities stand out:

Super-Speedy Installation and Service: There are definitely benefits to having our headquarters and operations based centrally where we provide our services. No long waits – in fact, most new customer installations and on-site services are scheduled within a week of inquiry. Need help? Just give us a call. Software fixes and upgrades are often accomplished remotely, within minutes, and without appointments.

Kristy CooperThe Overlooked Advantages of Softcom
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Busted! Wireless carriers caught putting the squeeze on streaming speeds. Here’s why Softcom will never do the same

Busted! Wireless carriers caught putting the squeeze on streaming speeds. Here’s why Softcom will never do the same

September 27, 2018 , , ,

A disturbing report showing a trend among wireless carriers of throttling down on streaming speeds for their customers – just because they can – has stirred up talks about net neutrality again.

A few months ago we shared our thoughts online about the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality rules and what could happen because of it. Net neutrality can be very difficult to understand, that’s why we laid it all out in an article on our blog, along with our official position that can be accessed here:

“Our Position on Net Neutrality”

Kristy CooperBusted! Wireless carriers caught putting the squeeze on streaming speeds. Here’s why Softcom will never do the same
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New study predicts over 5 million will cut cord in 2018

New study predicts over 5 million will cut cord in 2018

September 12, 2018 , , ,

A recent report that studied the TV watching and cord-cutting behaviors of viewers in the Unites States highlights the acceleration of people choosing to terminate their paid-TV services at such a rate that they predict that by the end of 2018 nearly 5.4 million consumers will have severed all ties to tradition television access.

Consulting firm Cg42 published the “2018 Cord Cutter & Cord Never Study” sharing their in-depth analysis of both US consumers who opted out of subscription-based Paid-TV service in the last several years (aka: Cord Cutters) as well as US consumers who have never subscribed to paid-TV service (aka: Cord Nevers).

Kristy CooperNew study predicts over 5 million will cut cord in 2018
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New tower upgrades coming to Herald West, Acampo

New tower upgrades coming to Herald West, Acampo

June 15, 2018 , , ,

The good news just keeps rolling in and we’re happy to share the progress of our latest technology and equipment improvements. The 4G LTE upgrades we announced last month for the Herald East tower have been completed and local Softcom customers are sending us positive feedback of faster, stronger internet service.

With that mission accomplished, we’re moving on to start on similar improvements for the Herald West and Acampo towers, with more in store later in the year. These upgrades have the added benefit of giving us the ability to add new customers and expand our service areas while also improving the quality of service for current customers, a win-win situation for all.

Kristy CooperNew tower upgrades coming to Herald West, Acampo
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Exciting news: The Galt fiber optic cable installation project is a go!

Exciting news: The Galt fiber optic cable installation project is a go!

May 31, 2018 , , , ,

We’re excited to share with you some exciting news: The Galt City Council has unanimously approved for Softcom to provide the City of Galt government with high-speed Internet access delivered by fiber-optic cable, a project that will provide nearly every city facility with significant improvements in their Internet access.

Fiber-optic cable is the industry standard for providing the fastest and most reliable Internet connection across the last mile — the section of the network connected to homes and businesses. Fiber provides the highest possible Internet speeds and data capacity, without having to rebuild new networks in the future once initial cable has been installed.

Kristy CooperExciting news: The Galt fiber optic cable installation project is a go!
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Overcoming a serious problem for rural internet users

Overcoming a serious problem for rural internet users

February 13, 2018 , ,

Even though we live in a time where virtual reality is becoming commonplace and people are buying tickets to Mars, it’s hard to believe that there still exists a “digital divide” between rural and urban areas when it comes to internet access. According to the Wall Street Journal, approximately 39 percent of America’s rural population – about 23 million people – do not have access to internet with speeds that can support email, web surfing, or video streaming for more than one device at a time. That’s compared to only 4 percent of urban dwellers who lack fast internet.

Some internet service providers promise the moon to rural internet users, encouraging them to commit to long-term contracts and high fees with the promise of impressive speeds, yet they fail to follow through and deliver. Just recently HughesNet users complained online that the company’s network is struggling to provide advertised speeds of “up to 25 Mbps,” with users sharing in DSL Reports online forums that they’re often relegated to mind-numbingly slow speeds between 384 kbps and 1 Mbps.

Kristy CooperOvercoming a serious problem for rural internet users
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About us

We believe that everyone deserves fast, reliable internet service no matter where they live or work. Softcom brings the experience, infrastructure, and technology to stand behind our vision. And we’re laser-focused on giving our customers the fast connections, exceptional customer service, and simple, affordable pricing they deserve.

For more information, visit our About Page.

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