Comcast launches wideband services

Comcast has launched its next-generation DOCSIS 3.0, making the leap from broadband to wideband in several areas of California, including Santa Barbara County.

With the launch, Comcast has now begun its rollout of the reliable wideband service in Central California after previously deploying the service in the San Francisco Bay and Monterey-Salinas areas earlier this year.

Wideband allows Comcast to introduce a new echelon of Internet speed tiers with some of the fastest speeds available today, including the Extreme 50 tier with download speeds of up to 50 Mbps.

Wideband also enables Comcast to double speeds for the majority of existing high-speed Internet customers.

Steve White, senior vice president of Comcast's California Region, said wideband utilizes the company's existing fiber-optic network and will allow Comcast to offer even faster speeds in the future.

The new services became available in homes Oct. 29 and businesses Thursday in Ballard, Buellton, Lompoc, Los Olivos, Orcutt, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez and Solvang.

For more information, visit www.comcast.com/fastestfast or call toll-free (888) COMCAST.

Bank shreds 16,000 pounds of paper

In the first week of October, Community West Bank in partnership with local law enforcement and ShredRite, helped

485 community members from Santa Maria to Westlake Village shred 16,061 pounds of paper as part of their annual identity theft protection and shredding event.

Thousands of such personal and business documents as bank statements, tax forms and old checks were safely destroyed on site using high-volume, truck-mounted shredders provided by ShredRite.

Law enforcement officers from the Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and the Ventura County District Attorney's Office provided identity theft and fraud protection information at the events.

Lynda Nahra, bank president and chief executive officer, said since beginning the community event in 2005, the bank and its partners have shredded more than 70,000 pounds of personal documents.

Community West Bank also has an identity theft prevention video available on its Web site at www.communitywestbank.com.

REC Solar offers system financing

REC Solar in San Luis Obispo has partnered with SunRun to bring solar-power financing to Central Coast homeowners and is holding seminars about the program.

The financing will allow residents to go solar for as low as $2,000 down, fix their costs of electricity and enjoy free maintenance, monitoring and system insurance, a company spokesman said.

REC Solar's free seminars will be held at the company offices, 775 Fiero Lane, Suite 200, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19.

Seating is limited. For reservations and information, call 540-5466 or e-mail gosolar@recsolar.com.

Mr. Rooter makes Top 200 franchises list

Mr. Rooter Plumbing, which has a franchise in Santa Maria, has been recognized in Franchise Times' Top 200 list for 2009.

The annual ranking lists the top 200 franchises based on worldwide sales. Mr. Rooter appears at slot No. 184.

The Top 200 list is featured in the magazine's October issue and at www.franchisetimes.com.