For the moment, many consumers may find them too pricey or complicated. TCI and other potential competitors either did not return calls for comment or said they didn't know enough about The Beam. PacTel, BellSouth and PCTV have introduced their own versions of the microwave technology in San Jose, Calif., New Orleans and Phoenix, respectively. Residents near The Beam's North Dallas transmission site have been puzzled for two years about helicopters and cranes hoisting equipment to the roof of the condominium high-rise. Now they know.
Basic offerings permit Internet access on nights and weekends only.
To justify the higher basic fee and start-up costs, The Beam is marketing its Internet access with video and music service. The basic package includes most television broadcast features currently available to digital satellite dish users, but including local channels. Premium channels such as HBO, Showtime and Cinemax are available at additional monthly costs. We're actually clearer. And once you get the video hookup, you also get 40 channels of DJ-free music all day and night.