Bits & Briefs

New Bar On Newark Avenue
A post on JCList points to construction permits issued for 284 First Street. The retail space, which essentially faces Newark Avenue, "has a permit in it's retail window for construction of a new bar/restaurant." Good news for local foodies, alcoholics.

Fiber Optics Creeping South
Verizon crews have been scurrying around the Hamilton Park neighborhood recently. Rumor has it they are laying fiber optic cables for FiOS service. Today crews on Jersey Avenue were as far south as 4th Street. Don't cancel your Comcast service just yet, it could be several more months before anyone is even offered a hookup.

Local Sports Teams Seek Registrants
ZogSports NJ, an adult recreation sports league, has opened up registration for spring sports.

Verizon: The Comcast Alternative?

Verizon has been quietly laying fiber optic cables throughout New Jersey for the last few years or so. The intent, in the long run, is to offer higher speed internet and cable alternative television. You can read more at The New York Times. That being said there are two things that need to happen for Verizon to start offering television services:

First, Verizon needs to know there is interest in the service. Fiber is being laid in the dense suburbs first, for cost reasons. But if demand is high enough, they'll also look to Jersey City. By filling out their request form for Fiber Optic Service here, you can help let them know you want a cable alternative.

The second thing that needs to happen is for Verizon to gain municipal approval. In New Jersey, every town controls access to their own residents' cable services. So the best place to start is the downtown's favorite councilman. Tell him you want an alternative to Comcast, so if and when Verizon approaches municipal government, the council will understand residents want more than a cable monopoly.

Ads Begin Infecting Jersey City Comcast Customers

Normally we like to keep rants on our personal blog. But since we aren't the only Comcast cable customers in Hudson County, we figured this little problem might be interfering with a number of people's enjoyment of their favorite reality television show.

Comcast it seems, decided that paying for cable service wasn't enough. Instead, forcing people to view ads on their guide menu to supplement the cost of customers. Take a look if you're confused about what we're talking about.

In either case, the service technician woman, who probably was actually a robot programmed to sound human, made mention of the fact that "only a few reports" of this "problem" had been reported "in your area." So since we'd like to think this is a technical malfunction rather than an attempt by Comcast to add one more level of annoyance to our lives, we recommend any other Jersey City or Hoboken Comcast customer experience this "feature" to contact customer service immediately. Or call 1.800.Comcast. Or call the local Comcast office directly 201.432.1234.

Or even better, if you are pissed off about seeing viral ads on your DVR menu, call their corporate office in Philadelphia and complain to them directly: 215.665.1700

Until then, we'd recommend everyone stick to satellite providers.

UPDATE
We contacted customer service about the issue and this is the response from John at ecare-Union@comcast.com:

"Thank you for your message. They are paid advertisements that can not be removed. They were added on 12-14-06. If you need further assistance, please feel free to respond directly to this email. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us. Thank you for choosing Comcast."

So if you are as upset about this as we are, we'd recomend emailing John and his friends at ecare-Union@comcast.com.

UPDATE 2

Also, there is the online petition KillComcastAds.com

UPDATE 3
A JCList user suggested contacting the Board of Public Utilities using this online complaint form. The BPU may not have the power to regulate this, but there really is no harm in getting the BPU to take a closer look at Comcast for whatever else they might be doing.