| reply to linicx
Re: It's too funny for words I posted most of this earlier in the thread, but I'll post again because I think it's important to understand that the customer isn't a "bozo". The customer acquired the DSL service before AT&T began its so-called "naked" DSL service. And the customer did have an existing POTS when he went with AT&T DSL - from a re-seller of AT&T phone service. And the customer appears to be quite happy with the service from the re-seller. But AT&T does not allow re-sellers to sell DSL service. Therefore, if the customer wants ANY DSL service, he is left with 2 choices: 1) Pay for a phone line that he does not want, need or use; 2) Abandon the POTS re-seller, one of a number of companies enticed into the telecom business by Ameritech/ SBC when it was trying to prove it had "competition" in the local phone service business and should, therefore, be permitted to sell long distance service. Immediately upon approval for long distance, Ameritech/ SBC began "wooing" back their old customers with methods like the one the customer describes. So why didn't the customer just port the line over to AT&T and be done with the re-seller? Probably because, even with the AT&T charges for the unused POTS, the customer is still better off keeping the line with the re-seller who is providing local and long distance service at a price significantly below the AT&T retail phone service pricing. Now how can that be? How can a re-seller be selling for so much less than AT&T's retail price and still be making money while AT&T whines that it is losing money??? The answer is simple: They are an ugly, greedy corporation that lies, cheats and misleads in order to get what they want. This whole thing has nothing to do with "true costs" or with one service "subsidizing" another. This has to do with the fact that AT&T was a monopoly prior to the mid-80's, that it was a failure in the truly “competitive” world of long distance service and that it is now doing everything it can to attain a monopoly status once again. And the FCC appears to be assisting them in the process. On behalf of all the current AT&T customers, I’d like to welcome the Bell South customers to the new world of "competition” - SBC style competition. Good luck, y'all. |
