Cable One, a Phoenix-based internet provider, serves more than 700,000 residential customers in 19 states. The ISP"s primary market is the rural United States, serving the Northwest, Midwest, and the southern region. Boise Idaho is by far Cable One's most concentrated area of service with well over 200,000 subscribers. Odessa Texas and Fargo North Dakota each have more than 100,000 subscribers, making those cities the top three served by the ISP. With coverage in over 200 communities, Cable One ranks about ninth in coverage and service out of the top 10 US ISP providers. Cable One also offers digital telephone services and cable television.
Internet subscribers can use their own modem or one supplied by the company for a small monthly fee. The website provides a list of cable supported modems that can be used with the service. No contracts are required and the cable modem deposit can be waived, depending on credit.
Cable One offers 4 main options for high-speed internet service. All plans include 20 Gmail accounts with 15 GB storage for each email account and a 30-day customer satisfaction guarantee.
The Starter plan includes speeds of up to 100 Mbps for download and 3 Mbps for upload and includes 300 GB of data. The plan provides sufficient speed for several streaming devices but speeds do slow down and get choppy when using more than 4 or 5 devices during peak-usage periods.
The Family Plan doubles the data of the Starter Plan with 600 GB and download speeds up to 150 Mbps with 5 Mbps for upload. This plan easily accommodates 5 to 8 devices.
The Streamer & Gamer Plan, with up to 200 Mbps for download and 10 Mbps upload, includes a 900 GB data plan. This plan supports up to 10 devices at time with the 200 Mbps is sufficient for uninterrupted game-play even during peak-usage periods.
The GigaONE Plan was introduced in early 2018 and provides speeds of up to 1000 Mbps for download, 50 Mbps for upload and a whopping 1,500 GB data limit. Cable One utilizes DOCSIS 3.0 technology, employing 32 downstream channels to deliver its blazing downstream speed.
Cable One also offers a few additional plans that are designed around data usage:
The Lite Plan is ideal for subscribers who rarely stream video but want to surf the net and check email and social media. The plan includes 15 Mbps download speed and 1 Mbps upload with 50 GB of data.
The Roommate Plan, designed for multiple streamers, provides 1,200 GB of data with 200 Mbps for downloading and 10 Mbps upload speed.
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The Power Home Plan is also sufficient for multiple streaming devices with a huge 1.5 TB data plan. Like the Roommate Plan, this plan features 200 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream.
WiFi ONE is an add-on featuring a turbo WiFi extender with three access points for large homes that may not receive an ample signal throughout the home. It also addresses issues related to WiFi channel congestion to prevent slowdown during peak usage. WiFi One easily supports numerous devices and seamless streaming and is worth the small monthly fee if you experience dead zones in remote corners of your house. Cable One's installers run tests and evaluations of the space before choosing the right equipment and locations to increase maximum signal strength. The service includes one modem and up to two extenders.
Customer service is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and by phone from 8:00-5:00, Monday through Friday MST. Tech support is available by phone or online 24 hours a day, every day. The company also features a YouTube channel for troubleshooting and to answer general questions.
There was virtually no wait for assistance once I contacted tech support through the online platform. The tech was knowledgeable and competent, resolving connectivity issues quickly. When I called customer service concerning some billing questions I was put on hold a couple of times but overall I was satisfied with the service.
Cable One has a good reputation for service and stability. While it's still a minor cable internet provider and can't really compete with the top providers on price, Cable One is on par with the major ISPs for speed, data packages and customer service. The company does well in its niche of serving smaller rural communities and is good choice over dial-up plans and for subscribers who don't want to commit to a contract.
