The Issue: Internet Woes from the Back of the Barbershop

As the in-house content guy for Joe’s Barbershop — and a few other small but mighty businesses around town — I’ve had a front-row seat to the struggle of slow, spotty internet. And let me tell you, nothing kills creativity faster than the spinning wheel of doom right as you’re about to upload a killer haircut timelapse or respond to three messages from customers asking if we’re open Sundays (we’re not, by the way).

Our current provider, Charter\Spectrum — bless their buffering hearts — keeps jacking up the prices like they’re offering some kind of premium internet caviar. Meanwhile, the actual service is about as reliable as a dollar store umbrella in a Plattsburgh snowstorm. It’s not just frustrating — it’s holding us back. Every upload that fails, every livestream that lags, it costs us time, customers, and growth.

Now here’s the kicker: at home, I’ve had Verizon for almost a decade. Residential service. No drama. No surprise bills. No headaches. Just good, solid internet like grandma used to make. That’s why I’m scratching my head and wondering — if Verizon can treat residential customers right, why can’t we get that same love at our storefronts?

Verizon’s FIOS fiber-optic service isn’t just some marketing buzzword. It’s real-deal, wired-to-your-wall fast. According to BroadbandNow — aka the internet nerds who know their stuff — FIOS runs circles around traditional cable and DSL. It's not just faster, it's stable. It doesn’t flicker out when you need it most, like when you're halfway through an Instagram reel or trying to book an appointment.

Mayor Wendell Hughes — we need you in our corner. Please meet with Verizon’s reps and help get FIOS extended to more of our city. We’re not asking for a golden goose. Just some decent, dependable internet so we can keep building this community, creating cool stuff, and growing our businesses without having to sacrifice a goat every time we hit “upload.”

Because here’s the truth: internet access isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a utility — like water, electricity, or a fresh fade before a wedding. If we want to level the playing field for local businesses, we need fiber.

So we’re asking our community to stand with us. Sign the petition. Share it with your grandma, your dog groomer, your favorite sandwich shop. The more we speak up, the better the odds that someone listens. Let’s make “buffering” a thing of the past — and build a faster, more connected future for Plattsburgh.