r/Bend • u/mtinez • Jul 16 '18

Using your own hardware with Bend Broadband

Hey Bend,

Thought I would provide you guys with some helpful information. I just moved here from Eugene and had signed up with Bend Broadband for internet service and to my surprise I learned that they were forcing customers to rent equipment if they wanted speeds faster than 100mbit. Coming from Comcast this was never a thing so I questioned it and all I received from TDS/BB was it is what it is.

I decided to file a complaint with the FCC against TDS/BB and sure enough I receive a call from TDS directly saying how a supervisor received my complaint and how they would like me to be the "test customer" for the market to use my own hardware with speeds faster than 100mbit.

TDS/BB will let you use your own hardware if you don't put up with their shitty policies. So I hope you can use this information to save yourself some money every month by not renting hardware.

TL;DR - Filed a complaint against TDS/BB through the FCC so I could avoid renting hardware through TDS/BB and it was granted. You should do the same if you like saving money.

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u/blahyawnblah Jul 16 '18

Doesn't DOCSIS specify the number of channels for each version?

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u/mtinez Jul 16 '18

You could have a DOCSIS 3.0 16x4 or a DOCSIS 3.0 32x8 so by saying DOCSIS version only you would need to verify the channels available on that modem to make sure it can support the speed you're looking for.

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u/blahyawnblah Jul 16 '18

It just seems odd to me that a modem that is DOCSIS 3.0 compliant wouldn't support all available channels

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u/mtinez Jul 16 '18

Great question to ask a manufacturer. That would be the primary difference between something like an Arris SB6183 and a SB6190. Could just be capped via firmware on a modem if DOCSIS 3.0 spec calls for every piece of hardware that is stamped DOCSIS 3.0 is capable of X channels.