AT&T Uverse IP address, MLB.TV and IP2Location

apm06851 · ‎04-03-2012

Hello,

I am hoping for some expert clarification from the ISP side on the subject of internet media sites that use geo-location software as a component of their viewing restrictions. Most examples of this center around being able to use US only services outside the US (Netflix for example). Generally, the geo-location software out there is good enough to determine whether you are or are not in the US. My specific example however, MLB.TV, uses geo-location to enforce viewing restrictions within the US.

Essentially, the way it is supposed to work is, if you are in the vieing area of a particular baseball team, you will be blacked out from watching the game on MLB.TV. The idea is that you would instead watch the game on that team's local sports network on TV. Let's look at my example. I live in Norwalk, CT. I am in the New York market/viewing area. Therefore, I cannot watch Yankees or Mets games on MLB.TV. However, if I travel to say, Los Angeles, I will then be able to watch those Yankees and Mets games, but not Dodger or Angels games.

The software they use to determine your location is provided by a company called IP2Location (www.ip2location.com).This is where I get to the meat of the issue. IP2Location can't seem to properly provide my location using my IP. I get two results depending on the site I am using. the IP2Location site locates me in Dearborn, MI. MLB.TV locates me in Wallingford, CT (MLB.TV has told me that they use IP2Location for their geo-location process).

The second result would seem on the surface to be pretty close. And it is - maybe 40 miles off. However, the issue is that that seemingly small inaccuracy greatly impacts my MLB.TV blackouts. It blacks me out of Red Sox games as that location places me within the Boston viewing area/market.

My question is, what can be done to remedy this? I would like for geo-location software to accurately locate me. Is this entirely their issue? There are other sites that can accurately locate me (such as speedtest.net). Is this something that AT&T can even help resolve?

Thank you for your time and reading my lengthy post.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

This is going to be a difficult thing to get fixed. The people who can dig into this are within the Network Engineering department of AT&T, and are going to be difficult to contact.

I would suggest that you send a private message to Alex, one of our Community Managers. He might be able to put you in touch with the right people, who then might be able to get your IP block registered with the proper geolocation information.

Be aware that even if this eventually works, it's likely it will take several weeks to get done.

apm06851 · ‎04-03-2012

Two things:

1. Thank you for the prompt response. I will follow up as you suggest.

2. I really really appreciate not being given a vague or pre-canned answer.

This is excellent customer service. :-)

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

apm06851 wrote:

This is excellent customer service. :-)

That's because I don't work for AT&T.

I'm a customer, just like you, who happens to frequent the forum and help out.

ATTAlexCM · ‎12-05-2005

Thank you @SomeJoe7777!

apm06851 wrote:

Hello,

I am hoping for some expert clarification from the ISP side on the subject of internet media sites that use geo-location software as a component of their viewing restrictions. Most examples of this center around being able to use US only services outside the US (Netflix for example). Generally, the geo-location software out there is good enough to determine whether you are or are not in the US. My specific example however, MLB.TV, uses geo-location to enforce viewing restrictions within the US.

Essentially, the way it is supposed to work is, if you are in the vieing area of a particular baseball team, you will be blacked out from watching the game on MLB.TV. The idea is that you would instead watch the game on that team's local sports network on TV. Let's look at my example. I live in Norwalk, CT. I am in the New York market/viewing area. Therefore, I cannot watch Yankees or Mets games on MLB.TV. However, if I travel to say, Los Angeles, I will then be able to watch those Yankees and Mets games, but not Dodger or Angels games.

The software they use to determine your location is provided by a company called IP2Location (www.ip2location.com).This is where I get to the meat of the issue. IP2Location can't seem to properly provide my location using my IP. I get two results depending on the site I am using. the IP2Location site locates me in Dearborn, MI. MLB.TV locates me in Wallingford, CT (MLB.TV has told me that they use IP2Location for their geo-location process).

The second result would seem on the surface to be pretty close. And it is - maybe 40 miles off. However, the issue is that that seemingly small inaccuracy greatly impacts my MLB.TV blackouts. It blacks me out of Red Sox games as that location places me within the Boston viewing area/market.

My question is, what can be done to remedy this? I would like for geo-location software to accurately locate me. Is this entirely their issue? There are other sites that can accurately locate me (such as speedtest.net). Is this something that AT&T can even help resolve?

Thank you for your time and reading my lengthy post.

Welcome apm06851. I received your Private Message and replied with the information needed since this is account specific. Please check your Private Message inbox (blue envelope, top-right) for an update. We'll get you in touch with the group that can look into it.

Regards,
Alex

--------------
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Pbert35 · ‎03-23-2012

SomeJoe7777 wrote:
apm06851 wrote:

This is excellent customer service. :-)

That's because I don't work for AT&T.

I'm a customer, just like you, who happens to frequent the forum and help out.

That's my line Geo location of the IP address seems to be an art form. IP2Location.com has me in Houston but I live 32 miles north of Houston. I have an extension in Firefox that has it much closer, here in Spring but in the 77380 zipcode. I found the right GPS Coordinates for my Apartment and it's much closer to being right.

oobleck · ‎05-10-2008

Pbert35 wrote:
That's my line Geo location of the IP address seems to be an art form. IP2Location.com has me in Houston but I live 32 miles north of Houston. I have an extension in Firefox that has it much closer, here in Spring but in the 77380 zipcode. I found the right GPS Coordinates for my Apartment and it's much closer to being right.

Most sites get my location pretty much correct -- right state, nearby city -- but some, including homedepot.com and ATT.com, think I'm in Fresno, CA rather than Ohio -- only off by 2,000 miles. Home depot I can somewhat understand, but you'd think AT&T would be able to figure out where their own customers are. They probably subscribe to the same erroneous service that home depot does. FWIW, IP2Location.com has it right, but IPligence.com has me in Richardson, TX. I tried a bunch of different geolocation services, and found that melissadata.com puts me in Fresno; maybe that's who AT&T uses.

--

oobleck

markneb · ‎04-30-2012

Any luck on this? I have the same issue. Live here in Indianapolis area but speedtest and IP2 Loaction show me in Texas?? Looking for a number to call to get support without having to wade through the weeds customer support reps who don't know what I am asking about.

oobleck wrote:
Pbert35 wrote:
That's my line Geo location of the IP address seems to be an art form. IP2Location.com has me in Houston but I live 32 miles north of Houston. I have an extension in Firefox that has it much closer, here in Spring but in the 77380 zipcode. I found the right GPS Coordinates for my Apartment and it's much closer to being right.
Most sites get my location pretty much correct -- right state, nearby city -- but some, including homedepot.com and ATT.com, think I'm in Fresno, CA rather than Ohio -- only off by 2,000 miles. Home depot I can somewhat understand, but you'd think AT&T would be able to figure out where their own customers are. They probably subscribe to the same erroneous service that home depot does. FWIW, IP2Location.com has it right, but IPligence.com has me in Richardson, TX. I tried a bunch of different geolocation services, and found that melissadata.com puts me in Fresno; maybe that's who AT&T uses.
--
oobleck

apm06851 · ‎04-03-2012

Hey everyone.

AT&T actually fixed this several months ago - when I checked sometime in May, MLB.TV was properly showing the zip code for my IP address.

However, a tech was just here completing a service call that resulted in him installing a new Residential Gateway - we had been having some TV quality issues. While the good news is this seems to have fixed my TV quality of service, the bad news is I seem to have a new IP address. This in turn means that MLB.TV is no longer showing the correct location for me.

The original problem has resurfaced.

:-(