Light through glass. Not electricity through copper.
Cable internet (coax) has been the standard for 40 years. It's showing its age. Here's the honest difference, in plain English, and why it matters for what you actually use the internet for.
Coax (Cable)
Copper wire carrying electrical signals. The infrastructure most homes still have.
- How it travelsElectrical current through copper
- UploadingSlow — typically 10-50 Mbps
- SharingShared with your neighbors
- WeatherSlowed by weather and electrical noise
- Top speed~1-2 Gig max, and weaker the farther it travels
Fiber Optic
Pulses of light traveling through pure glass strands. The infrastructure everyone's upgrading to.
- How it travelsLight pulses through glass
- UploadingSame as downloading
- SharingDedicated line to your home
- WeatherNot bothered by weather or electrical noise
- Top speedMulti-Gig today, with room to grow for decades
The 60-second version.
For you, or for whoever you need to convince.
Share this with your spouse
- Fast both ways. Streaming, video calls and uploads don't slow each other down.
- Unlimited data. Stream, game, work from home and download as much as you want.
- Built to last. The line can keep up as internet speeds keep climbing.
- $50/mo for 1 Gig (plenty fast for a whole household) with T-Mobile Fiber, first month free. Flat rate, not an introductory price. Free installation and equipment included, no annual contract.
- It's reaching more streets. Government funding and big company investment are bringing fiber to neighborhoods that never had it.
- I'm local. You get me, not a call center.
Excellent, and dang I hadn't realized how slow my previous speeds had been!
A customer in Hudsonville, Michigan, when I asked how the install wentI love it, I would never go back.
Another customer in Hudsonville, MichiganHear it from him.
18 seconds, in his own words. Tap play and turn your sound on.
This video couldn't load here. Text me and I'll send it to you.
The day after the install.
I always text to ask how it went. Here's what two customers wrote back.
In her own words.
This is what one customer wrote to her neighbors after switching from 20 years of cable. She says she wasn't compensated for it.
I make it easy, and I stay with you.
- Minutes, not days of phone tag. I get you on the install schedule within minutes, often for the next day or the day after.
- I follow up after install to make sure everything is working the way it should.
- Local customer service. If you ever need help, you call me, not a call center.
Five fiber companies, one local rep
I run your address across every network I represent and tell you which one fits.
Fiber vs cable vs 5G home internet.
Three ways to get internet to your house, compared honestly. Only one is a dedicated line made of glass.
| Fiber | Cable (coax) | 5G home internet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it travels | Light through glass | Electricity through copper cable | Radio waves from a tower |
| Uploading (video calls, backups) | As fast as downloading | Much slower than downloading | Slower than downloading |
| Shared with neighbors? | No, your own line | Yes, shared with your neighborhood | Yes, shared with everyone on the tower |
| What slows it down | Very little | Weather and electrical noise | Distance, trees, buildings, busy times |
| Room to grow | Huge. Can keep getting faster | Limited | Limited |
Pew's research found fiber is the same speed both ways and very quick to respond, while wireless internet slows down with distance and anything in the way. Pew: How Do Americans Connect?
What the government measured.
The FCC tested real homes during the busy evening hours (7 to 11 p.m.). Speeds are in Mbps, which is how much data moves each second.
About 85% of fiber and cable customers got the download speed they paid for or better. Under 15% of DSL customers did.
The FCC also found fiber lost the least data in transit. This is from fall 2022, so treat it as a benchmark, not a promise for your address. Cable matched fiber on download speed. Fiber's edge is uploading, quick response and consistency. FCC 13th Measuring Broadband America report (PDF)
Why every homeowner should consider it.
Uploading matters now
Video calls, cloud backups, security cameras and working from home all send data out. With fiber, sending is as fast as receiving.
Built for the future
The fiber line can keep up as speeds climb, with little maintenance, per Pew.
Your own line
Not shared with the neighborhood, so the whole family can stream, work and game at the same time.
Unlimited data, no contract
T-Mobile Fiber advertises unlimited data and no annual contracts.
The money & history.
Why fiber is suddenly showing up on your street.
Congress sets aside $42 billion (BEAD) to bring internet to homes without it.
Internet companies promise about $60 billion to build fiber, per Pew.
Billions in rural internet money is still waiting to be used.
The federal agency opens a new round for about $21 billion in leftover money.
Who had fiber before you?
Fiber first carried internet traffic between cities and powered research networks, including government-funded ones. Running it to every house was too expensive, so most homes got internet over old phone lines (called DSL) or cable TV wire.
Why did the government fund this?
The goal was to get internet to homes that had none or very slow service, not to rank speeds. In 2021 Congress set aside $42 billion for it (a program called BEAD). Rural and spread-out areas cost the most to wire.
How did the money make it possible?
Grants make it cheaper for companies to build. Government guidance also favored fiber, and internet companies promised about $60 billion to build it (as of 2022). That's why neighborhoods are getting fiber now.
Where it stands today
In September 2026 the federal agency in charge (NTIA) said it will take new state plans for about $21 billion in leftover money, aimed at homes still without service. It says it now looks for the cheapest option rather than favoring fiber.
Why I say get it now, not later.
- Current promos (free months, prepaid card) don't last.
- Installation is free right now. Offers like this can change.
- Fiber is still new in most neighborhoods. When it reaches your street, it's smart to grab it.
- Waiting means more months paying for slower service.
Pricing & promos.
Fiber starting at $50 a month, with unlimited data, free installation and equipment included. The most competitive pricing of the networks I sell.
- First month free
- Unlimited data
- Free installation
- Same speed both ways
- Wi-Fi router and Wi-Fi extender included
- Flat rate: the price you see is the price you pay
- First and third month free
- Plus a $100 prepaid Mastercard
- Unlimited data
- Free installation
- Wi-Fi router and Wi-Fi extender included
- Flat rate: the price you see is the price you pay
T-Mobile states the $50 and $70 are not introductory rates. Promos change, so I confirm everything at your address before you sign.
Want me to compare other options?
I also work with Frontier, Surf Internet, AT&T and Brightspeed and can compare for your street. Call me and I'll run it.
Five fiber companies. One local rep.
Availability depends on your address. I check every network and tell you honestly which one fits. A "Gig" is just a speed level. 1 Gig is plenty for a whole household.
T-Mobile Fiber
Same speed for uploads and downloads
- $50/mo for 1 Gig, first month free
- $70/mo for 2 Gig, first and third month free plus $100 prepaid Mastercard
- Unlimited data and no annual contracts
- Free installation, plus an eero Pro 7 gateway and Wi-Fi extender included
- Flat rates, not introductory: the price you see is the price you pay
- The most competitive pricing of the networks I sell
Frontier
A Verizon company
Fiber that's as fast sending as receiving, no data caps, no annual contract. Verizon completed its Frontier acquisition on Jan 20, 2026, and said current plans were not changing.
Surf Internet
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois
Fiber that's as fast sending as receiving, with unlimited data, no contracts, free professional install and eero Wi-Fi. A regional company with a local team.
AT&T Fiber
National fiber network
Same speed both ways, with no data caps. Available only where it's built.
Brightspeed
Suburban and rural expansion
Fiber that's as fast sending as receiving, in areas it has upgraded.
Speeds, pricing and promos vary by address and change often. I confirm everything before you order.
What else is worth knowing.
The details that help you decide, in plain English.
Speed, in plain English
Internet speed is measured in Mbps, which is how much data moves each second. A bigger number means faster downloads and more things working at once. 1 Gig is 1,000 Mbps, which is plenty for a whole household.
Times are the math at full line speed (50 GB is 400 gigabits). Real downloads vary with the server and your Wi-Fi.
It can raise your home's value
A university study (Carnegie Mellon, funded by a fiber industry group) found fiber can add up to about 3.1% to a home's value, roughly $5,400 on a typical home. Homes with Gig-speed internet sold for over 7% more than homes with very slow internet.
Data is from 2011 to 2013, so treat it as directional. Fibre Systems
Your Wi-Fi matters too
Wi-Fi inside your house can slow things down no matter how fast your plan is. Put your router in a central spot, and plug TVs, computers and game consoles in with a cable when you can.
How much speed do you really need?
A sharp 4K video stream uses about 15 to 18 Mbps, per the FCC. A 1 Gig plan has room for dozens at once. For most homes the bigger win is that fiber is just as fast sending as receiving.
Smoother calls and games
Every click online has a tiny delay before your connection responds. Less delay means video calls and online games freeze and lag less. The FCC found fiber had the least delay of the connections it tested.
Fast when everyone's home
Evenings are when everyone is streaming. In the FCC's testing, fiber and cable stayed steady at those busy times, while DSL fell short of what it promised.
Who needs 2 Gig?
One phone or laptop usually can't use all 2 Gig by itself. The extra speed helps most when lots of devices are busy at the same time, like in a big family.
Fiber, translated
- Download
- Pulling things in, like streaming a show.
- Upload
- Sending things out, like a video call or a photo backup.
- Mbps and Gig
- How fast data moves. 1 Gig is 1,000 Mbps.
- Same both ways
- Uploads are as fast as downloads. Cable is usually much slower going out.
- Response delay
- How quickly your connection reacts. Lower feels smoother for calls and games.
- ONT box
- The small box where the fiber line enters your home.
- Wi-Fi extender
- An extra Wi-Fi box that helps signal reach every room.
What people and experts say.
I'd rather show you independent research than ask you to trust me. Here's what customers and experts have found.
Excellent, and dang I hadn't realized how slow my previous speeds had been!
A customer in Hudsonville, Michigan, when I asked how the install wentI love it, I would never go back.
Another customer in Hudsonville, MichiganHear it from him.
18 seconds, in his own words. Tap play and turn your sound on.
This video couldn't load here. Text me and I'll send it to you.
The day after the install.
I always text to ask how it went. Here's what two customers wrote back.
In her own words.
This is what one customer wrote to her neighbors after switching from 20 years of cable. She says she wasn't compensated for it.
In the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index survey of nearly 27,000 customers, fiber internet companies scored 76 out of 100 and non-fiber companies scored 71.
How steady and dependable customers rated fiber companies' speed and service, out of 100. It was 81 the year before.
J.D. Power's 2026 study ranked T-Mobile highest in customer satisfaction among internet companies, ahead of AT&T and Verizon.
The J.D. Power result is about the app and website experience, not the internet connection itself. ACSI 2026 press release · J.D. Power 2026 study
Real customers, real experiences.
After interviewing six T-Mobile Fiber customers in five states, Reviews.org rated it 4.7 out of 5.
Fast, with strong coverage
Customers said it's fast, and the Wi-Fi even reaches the garage.
Better than what they had
Some customers said it beat Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber.
Source: Reviews.org, "T-Mobile Fiber Internet Review" (August 2026). The rating and customer comments come from Reviews.org's interviews, not from my own customers.
The FCC measured it
In the FCC's real-world testing, fiber had the fastest uploading, the quickest response and the least lost data. I show the numbers on the Fiber vs Cable tab.
Pew says it's built to last
Pew's research says fiber is the same speed both ways, very quick to respond, and can keep getting faster over time.
Fiber leads the satisfaction rankings
ACSI scored AT&T Fiber 79, tied for the top score among all internet providers, and Brightspeed Fiber 78, up 8% from last year.
Common questions.
The things people ask me before they switch.
Will you be without internet during the switch?
No. Keep your current service until fiber is installed and working, then cancel. I walk you through the timing. Cancellation fees depend on your current provider, so ask me before you cancel.
Does installation cost anything?
No. Installation is free, and your eero Pro 7 gateway and Wi-Fi extender are included. The flat rate you see is the price you pay.
Why order through me instead of the carrier?
Because I make it easy. I get you on the install schedule within minutes, follow up after the install, and I'm your local customer service if you ever need help. You get all of that at the same price.
Does it cost more to sign up through me?
No. You pay the carrier's published rate. The carriers pay me, and I don't add fees.
Is the data really unlimited?
Yes. T-Mobile Fiber advertises unlimited data and no annual contracts. Surf and Frontier advertise unlimited data and no contracts too. Terms differ by carrier, and I confirm them for your address.
How long does the install take?
I can usually get you on the install schedule for the next day or the day after. The install takes roughly 2 hours, and we service everything that first day. We come back at a later date to bury the line.
Do you need to buy a router?
No. T-Mobile includes a Wi-Fi router and a Wi-Fi extender with both 1 Gig and 2 Gig service. Surf includes eero Wi-Fi equipment.
Is 5G home internet good enough?
It's a good option where fiber isn't built. It uses radio signals from a shared tower, so speeds can change with distance and what's in the way. Fiber is your own line to your house. See the comparison table on the Fiber vs Cable vs 5G tab.
What if fiber isn't on your street yet?
Tell me your address. I check every network I represent, and builds are expanding with federal and private money. I can tell you what's closest.
Do you need a faster plan than 1 Gig?
Most households do fine on 1 Gig. 2 Gig makes sense for big households, heavy uploads and lots of smart devices. At $70 with the current promo, it is a small step up.
Install & equipment.
What actually happens, and what lands in your house.
- Address checkI confirm fiber is built to your street. About 5 minutes.
- Order & scheduleYou pick 1 Gig or 2 Gig and I get you on the install schedule, usually for the next day or the day after.
- Install dayInstallation is free and takes roughly 2 hours. The tech services everything the first day: the small box where the fiber enters your home, your Wi-Fi router and your Wi-Fi extender.
- Wi-Fi extenderEvery 1 Gig and 2 Gig install includes an eero Pro 7 Wi-Fi extender to spread signal through the house.
- You're onlineKeep your old service until fiber works, then cancel.
- Line burialWe come back at a later date to bury the line.
ONT box
The small box where the fiber line enters your home and becomes internet.
eero Pro 7 gateway
Your Wi-Fi router, the main box that sends Wi-Fi through your home. Included with every T-Mobile Fiber plan. Put it in a central spot.
eero Pro 7 Wi-Fi extender
Included with both 1 Gig and 2 Gig service to extend Wi-Fi through your home. It also has ports, so you can plug a TV or game console in with a cable.
eero app
Manage your network from your phone. See which devices are online, set up profiles for family members and check activity.
Phone & TV.
Fiber is the foundation. These two pair well with it.
Visible at $25/mo
Visible runs on Verizon's network. Plans are $25 (Visible), $35 (Visible+) and $45 (Visible+ Pro). Visible+ adds Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband access. It's fully digital with no stores.
$82.99/mo
$59.99/mo for the first 3 months. Live TV with no contract, unlimited cloud DVR and up to six profiles per household. Smaller genre packages (for example Sports at around $65) have also launched.
Streaming works best on fiber because uploads and downloads don't compete. Prices change often, so confirm on each provider's site.
Sources & further reading.
Everything above, linked so you can check me.
- How Do Americans Connect to the Internet?Pew Charitable Trusts
- 13th Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report (PDF)Federal Communications Commission
- NTIA opens door to new federal broadband grantsRoll Call, Sept 4, 2026
- Billions in rural broadband funds still on holdRoll Call, June 30, 2026
- BEAD Supplemental Deployment Policy Notice (PDF)NTIA
- T-Mobile Fiber Internet ReviewReviews.org, August 2026 (search the title to read it)
- ACSI Telecommunications Study 2026American Customer Satisfaction Index, May 2026
- 2026 U.S. Telecom Digital Experience StudyJ.D. Power
- Fiber broadband enters largest investment cycle everFiber Broadband Association
- Verizon completes acquisition of FrontierROI-NJ, January 2026
- Fibre broadband boosts US home valuesFibre Systems, on the Carnegie Mellon / FTTH Council study
Ready, or just have questions?
I'm Logan, your local fiber rep from Grand Haven. I'll check your address and walk you through it.
Call or Text (616) 610-2423Email Me