 as small mobile operators lease backhaul capacity in locations where they don't have their own backhaul infrastructure. See Chapter 7 for more information on backhaul and cell sites. Other Competitors to Broadband Providers- Overbuilders Overbuilders were the first facilities-based competitors to cable TV operators in the United States. They began offering service immediately following passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which for the first time allowed competitors to offer services "over" incumbent cable TV operators' equipment. Overbuilders run their cables over incumbent MSOs' cables on telephone poles in residential neighborhoods. However, they reuse the drop wires installed by the incumbent cable TV operator. A drop wire is the cable from the telephone pole to an individual residence. RCN and Atlantic Broadband are examples of overbuilders. Overbuilders offer voice telephone service and Internet access in addition to pay-TV. Some also sell broadband services to business customers in areas where they operate. However, overbuilders underestimated the cost of building and maintaining these networks. They also overestimated their ability to win customers from incumbent cable television operators. One factor in the difficulty of attracting enough customers to be profitable was their lack of financial heft to mount the widespread TV and print advertising campaigns incumbents mount. RCN Telecom LLC is the largest overbuilder. It offers service in New York City, eastern Massachusetts, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Private equity firm TPG purchased RCN and overbuilder Grande in 2016 and manages both RCN and firm Grande Communications Network LLC. Grande provides cable www.TechnicalPDF.com TV service in Texas. Atlantic Broadband was purchased by Canadian cable TV company Cogeco in 2017. Agents Agents act as independent representatives for carriers. Like insurance agents, a carrier's agent receives commissions on services that it sells. AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and CenturyLink started agent programs as a