Why is AT&T Michigan refusing to install Fiber Internet in my area despite Comcast having done it already?

Livonia is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 95,535 at the 2020 census, which ranked it as Michigan's ninth most-populated municipality. Livonia is a part of Metro Detroit and is located about 2 miles west of the city limits of Detroit, separated only by Redford Township

https://broadbandnow.com/ATT

click on the map, select fiber and zoom in to area… map is likely out of date by at least 6 months

There is fiber in Livonia primarily south of Plymouth Rd and east of Farmington Road.

If your in an apartment complex, is there a minimum of 60 units as part of complex, the more the better…

https://www.att.com/att/multifamily-property/locator/

So I do live in an apartment complex of sorts, and AT&T was the primary internet provider for our area. It was pretty shocking to see Comcast putting in fiber in our area before AT&T. 

Like you mentioned, I do see fiber installed just east, west, and south of where I live. For an area that is so residential and business heavy, it's a bit odd that they haven't expanded. 

Is there a way I could petition to have AT&T install in my area given their previous investment in my area? I have no intention of moving to get fiber, fiber should just be installed in my area, especially since new houses have been built near me. 

Hi, @J_East, we would be happy to help with more information regarding fiber availability

 

Thank you for the input, @my thoughts.

 

Here are some reasons why fiber may not be available in your area:

1. Distance – AT&T Internet is a distance-dependent service. If you are too far away from the equipment, certain services may not be available. This means your neighbor may have service but your home cannot.  
2. Equipment is not available – To get service, AT&T Internet equipment has to be in the area. In some instances, it isn't. We do not have information if or when it will be.
3. The area is not built for U-verse – some areas are not U-verse ready. The Community team does not have information if or when it will be. Distance and equipment can play a key in instances like this.
4. Another competitor services there area - This happens from time to time but it does not mean all services are not available to you. Check out other internet options below!

Note: In order to get higher speeds, you must be within a certain distance of the serving equipment or the equipment must be present in the area. Points 1 and 2 apply in these scenarios. If internet is not available, there are other options.

 

If you believe it should be available in your area, but it doesn't show up when you try to order service, you can fill out an address research request. Just fill out the form, and we'll look into it and get back to you! 

 

Finally, we recommend signing up for fiber notifications. When fiber is available in your area, we'll let you know! 

 

If you have any other questions, just let us know! Thank you for contacting AT&T Community Forums.

Daniel, AT&T Community Specialist

Hey Daniel!

So there is a bit of an issue with the "address research request" link you sent me. The options below are the only ones:

• A neighbor has Internet, digital home phone, or U-verse TV from AT&T.
• I received mail from AT&T about these services.
• My address has been eligible before for Internet, digital home phone, or U-verse TV from AT&T.
• None of the above apply. Notify me when these services become available at my address.

I need an option that says something to indicate that AT&T will research whether fiber can be installed in my area. Again, it's been a few years of requests that I've put in prior, and at this point I need someone in charge to talk to about this, or at least be able to send a petitioned request from my neighborhood to have Fiber installed. 

Not only would having Fiber in my apartment complex be huge for my neighbors and I, but also for homes nearby who also have been requesting for fiber. 

Do more than copy and paste your pre-written response. Get the people in charge ON THE PHONE! 

Att will never say where or if fiber will be installed. The fact that you are in an apartment throws another factor into the mix. The apartment complex would have to pay to upgrade the apartments to accept fiber service. Run Ethernet to each apartment, provide a central network area for att to put equipment in, etc. Many complexes wouldn’t do that. 

If you rent and have to have fiber, you would be better off moving than waiting on att. 

https://forums.att.com/conversations/att-fiber-ordering/when-will-fiber-internet-be-available/64850f68f2f4cc6d3c808ab2

see my reply in the above thread.

For apartment/condo complexes, the owner / manager must fill out request. Then needs to have at least 60 units as part of complex.

If your smaller such as duplex, 4 family, 8 family, etc would be deployed just like single family… from pole or underground if/when the neighborhood is done.

While the goal is 50% of all addresses within 21 state footprint, that is not 50% of zip code. There are zip codes that are 80-90% fiber (not 100%) and zip codes that are less than 20%. Within next 30 months you will know which half of footprint you’re in. Or consider relocating to an address where the desired service is available, easier for apartment tenant than someone having to sell their home, but it has been done.

edit…

https://www.att.com/att/multifamily-property/

if have the units have management fill out bottom of this link.

My apartment complex is currently going through some construction at the moment for something else at the moment, but I will reach out later early next month (July) and see if they are open to upgrading their AT&T services. Again, I have no intentions of moving just yet, nor am I interested in using comcast or continuing to use a broadband service that should have been updated in my area. 

I'll respond back to this post after that to see if they will do anything as the responses so far that are saying someone like myself need to ask my complex to request an upgrade is EXACTLY what should be suggested and a new request form where we can CC our complex can be made super easy. This is an opportunity for growth AT&T, so be ready to do so before this summer is over.