Bye, bye SBC/ATT/Ma Bell

[AllyCat]

I've had it. The last few weeks, websites are loading slower than usual (I know because FasterFox times everything). The last couple of days, my email has started loading really, really slow. Sometimes, the new mail won't load at all. I called and found out that there is nothing wrong on their end, but if I want to upgrade my speed for another $11.00/mo they will give me "Pro" service to have the internet faster (or basically, the same speed I had before this unexplained slowdown).

Today's mail came with an ad to do exactly that and I hit the ceiling. Besides my anger over the NSA scandal, now they have successfully convinced, or bought off, the FCC to ignore popular opinion and overwhelming public comment in favor of net neutrality. Instead, the FCC blesses Big Telecom to start pay to play on the formerly "free" internet.

So I finally found a locally-owned company that for a few dollars a month than SBC, will give us DSL and land line service. They guarantee no pay to play and refuse to give info to anyone, including the NSA.

If you have the option and have not already done so, I urge you to consider the same action.

[Kolesar]

1. Does your new ISP have to pay SBC/ATT for use of the "lines"?

...that physically connect you?? I don't understand this technology.

[AllyCat]

2. Hmmm... not sure.

I know they have to run a new line and box from the street to the house. At least that part is theirs. Not sure about the rest of it.

[Kolesar]

4. Maybe SBC/ATT gets less of a cut now

I am annoyed at Time Warner cable/internet for political reasons so I am thinking of going to "some" DSL provider.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. I fell for the "upgrade" from Qwest

My internet connection is just as f-ing slow as it was before, only now I'm paying more every month to be frustrated.

[_testify_]

5. Do you have Bright House in your area?

They also have different grades of broadband, but it's extremely fast. I pay for the standard 7mbps service but I regularly hit speeds over 10mbps, which is their next level of service! They also have EXCELLENT customer service for a utility company.

[Sadie5]

6. SBC here too

and I am getting mighty tired of slow loading pages. I did call and was told the same as you, I can upgrade for extra bucks every month. The woman I spoke to also reminded me that if I tried to leave SBC DSL and phone service I would be charged a $200 fee as I have a two year contract. I didn't realize I had a two year contract so you had better check that out before going to another company. I do agree that Brighthouse has good service for their cable.

[AllyCat]

7. Mine was, believe it or not, only a 6 month contract

And that time has long expired. So I'm done with them (although they'll probably find a way to sink their teeth into me somehow).

[live love laugh]

8. I have had so many problems with AT&T this past week it's not funny

No internet for five days, phone service out for two days.

Today I called to downgrade my "package" with them because of their less-than-urgent response to my phone and internet problems. Then, they only "support" one type of modem for internet--Gateway 2Wire which I am told here at DU by the computer people performs very poorly. Of course the modem that they sent me a year ago is out of warranty and I had to buy a new one.

Getting a straight answer from one of their "customer service" people is like pulling teeth. I asked what the options were for reducing the cost of my service. I have their voice mail (which sucks) unlmtd. long distance, Dish and internet. The agent kept asking me what phone service I wanted to get rid of and then she said she could tell me what the cost would be. I kept asking her to tell me the price of each service so that I could make an informed choice. We went back and forth with her asking what I want to drop and me asking what's available and at what cost.

After persisting, I found out long distance is not really long distance--I have to pay for calls within my state as long distance; and I found out that they will quote you one price but add on at least $10 more in taxes and fees.

Dish Network is just as bad--their agent told me that I could sign up for the 250, 200 150 and family package without telling me anything about the differences between the four. I ended up dropping a premium channel and reducing the total nonpremium cable channels--but only after pressing to get the info they don't provide. I also asked about blocking Fox but was told they don't customize offerings.

It just pissed me off that there are no choices to buy these services elsewhere for the most part. I am still looking for an alternative ISP. The thought of being nickled and dimed and then paying to be spied on pisses me off.

[UTUSN]

9. Everybody should have known to say BYE to ATT (at least) and now SBC since the '70s n/t