JosephStalin
join:2002-08-08
Springfield, MA
| The new "economy" tier
new speed |
So what exactly is this "Economy" tier? It gives you 384kbps of download speed, which is equivalent to about 50KB per second, in other words with this new tier you can download an MP3 (they are usually around 4mb) in just 80 seconds, and a cd (around 700mb) in just a little under four hours. The upload speed is the same as what you're currently getting, 384kbps.
If that sounds as great to you as it did for me, just give Comcast (1-800-comcast) a call, and tell them you want to downgrade your internet service to "Economy". They'll tell you that you'll save $18 and they press a button and immediately you'll be on the new price plan and new speed.
Above I've attached a screenshot of my new speed. | |
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 Davemaster
Premium
join:2006-03-02
Marietta, GA | Re: The new "economy" tier Are you absolutely certain this is an official speed and price sanctioned by Comcast? | |
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JosephStalin
join:2002-08-08
Springfield, MA | Re: The new "economy" tier Yes, give them a call and tell them you want to downgrade to "Economy" and they will instantly know what you're talking about. As long as you are also a Cable-TV or Digital Voice customer, the price for the "Economy" tier is $24.95 a month. | |
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DaBears57
join:2006-03-07
Wheaton, IL | Re: The new "economy" tier Terrible deal. With DSL you can get 1.5 Mbps/384 kbps for like $15. | |
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JosephStalin
join:2002-08-08
Springfield, MA
| Re: The new "economy" tier quote:
Terrible deal. With DSL you can get 1.5 Mbps/384 kbps for like $15.
I have had bad experiences with DSL, especially Verizon. Besides, DSL would require a phone line (I only use cellphone), which I don't have nor plan to have.
For people in my situation, I think this new "Economy" tier is a great solution, much better than paying $42.95 when 99% of the time I'm just browsing forums and reading news. | |
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| | | | NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by espaeth  :said by DaBears57 :Terrible deal. With DSL you can get 1.5 Mbps/384 kbps for like $15. My "$24.95" DSL line costs me $70/mo by the time you factor in all the fees. I only pay $17.99 per month. That is after factoring fees and taxes; there are no such beasts in California.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs | MN must have some whacked out taxes and fees.
I have 3K/768 DSL with a basic phone line and with taxes and fees, my bill is $42/mo.....
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FCC, PLEASE KILL THE MERGER BEFORE THE MERGER KILLS SATRAD! | |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by N3OGH :MN must have some whacked out taxes and fees. I have 3K/768 DSL with a basic phone line and with taxes and fees, my bill is $42/mo..... That's a good price. I have 3000/512 with a POTS line and the bill totals out to $67. I could have Comcastic's silver goo on my TV bill for the same price, but 14 years of Adelphia turned me completely against cable internet service; tech support was horrid and a good thunderstorm meant downtime. Cable is to HSI what waterboarding is to relaxation...
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Salary Ratios (Top-tier CEOs : firms' employees): Britain, 24:1; France, 15:1; Sweden, 13:1; United States, 475:1 .:. see you in the eye of the needle. | |
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| | | rid0617
join:2003-07-20
Greer, SC | Not in my neck of the woods. Paying Bellsouth 32.95 for 1.5/256 even though I'm getting half that speed due to being too far down the loop. | |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| said by JosephStalin :.... they will instantly know what you're talking about. I wouldnt bet on that horse!
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL | Did something change? I was under the impression that the economy plan was for just for retention purposes. | |
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comtech11
join:2007-02-17
East Orange, NJ | Only being offered in in select test markets at the moment. | |
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| alfnoid
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-18
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by comtech11 :Only being offered in in select test markets at the moment. Just like the tiers most people around these forums would LOVE to call in and request. 16/1 or 16/2
Can't really see that many people around here would like to downgrade for less speed.
All the talk around here is that people want more speed.
Still nice to know it is (maybe, someday) out there for people like my parents. | |
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PetesPCW
join:2000-09-22
Jensen Beach, FL
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by alfnoid :said by comtech11 :Only being offered in in select test markets at the moment. Just like the tiers most people around these forums would LOVE to call in and request. 16/1 or 16/2 Can't really see that many people around here would like to downgrade for less speed. All the talk around here is that people want more speed. Still nice to know it is (maybe, someday) out there for people like my parents. I posted in the transition forum that I have many customers who would love to:
a. Switch from BellSouth/ATT Lite because of the poor outsourced customer service.
b. Would sign up right away to a tier priced similar to the DSL $24 package since DSL is unavailable.
Qualifying that about 80% of my customers are retired on fixed incomes or retired and don't give a darn about speed.
Many are "snowbirds" who pay a low tier price back home and can't understand why the same Company, Comcast, or another provider wants to charge double for their Florida service. | |
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Ryle
P2P 4EVA
join:2005-03-09
Bellevue, WA
| meh like someone else already posted.. if it were 2Mbit/2Mbit i would jump all over it..
id much rather have slower download speed if it means i would have symmetrical speed.
id even change if it was only 1Mbit/1Mbit, but 368/368 too low imo for 25$, it should be more like $17.95 | |
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jsolo1
Premium
join:2001-07-01 | RCN here in chicago (and other areas they service) offers a 1.5/384 for $17/month.
Seems like a much better deal.
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Insanity is living in a state of disillusion. | |
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| gonfishn
join:2007-01-04
Mobile, AL
| Re: The new "economy" tier I had BellSouth ADSL 5 yrs+ and switched to cable for faster speeds. I live in Mobile, AL and paid $42.95 before taxes,etc. for 1.5/384 DSL every month but the faster 3.0/6.0 speeds for DSL are not available in my neighborhood in the city.
I pay $42.95 for 6.0/384 with Comcast but the download speeds bite - very inconsistent. My residential neighborhood has many people with no cable at all so there is not a bandwidth issue, but at least I can get 6.0/384 now for what I used to pay for 1.5/384. | |
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Obliteration
Premium
join:2005-09-18
Somewhere
| said by jsolo1 :RCN here in chicago (and other areas they service) offers a 1.5/384 for $17/month. Seems like a much better deal. Keep in mind the area RCN covers is roughly 1sq mile in Chicago.
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"The constitution is just a goddamn piece of paper."-George W. Bush, Nov. 2005 | |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by Obliteration :said by jsolo1 :RCN here in chicago (and other areas they service) offers a 1.5/384 for $17/month. Seems like a much better deal. Keep in mind the area RCN covers is roughly 1sq mile in Chicago. Your high. I work there, I drive there, I know every mile that RCN covers.
Keep in mind you have no clue what you are talking about.
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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| | | Kash76
join:2003-09-08
Burnsville, MN
 ·ViaTalk
| Re: The new "economy" tier Well, I called to check into this for my parents.
The miserable b*tch that answered didn't know anything about this package and said that she would know since she's been there for 12 years. I asked her if she wouldn't mind asking someone else and she refused.
I guess that all of you are lying and this whole thing must be a conspiracy against ME.
FU Comcast, I'm trying to get you some business and you don't want it.
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Kash76 | |
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Tigerpaw509
Premium
join:2006-07-15
Huntley, IL | Sounds like your Comcast service rep | |
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kgeier82
join:2004-04-05
Westminster, MD | we just switched from economy. unless it has changed in the last week, it was 256/256 for 24.95 | |
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Mr Plow
@hemotorenwerke.com
| I think they would get a lot more people if they competed a little better with the lowend dsl deals that are out right now. Even 1.5 mb/384 would be a better deal than 384 both ways.
I dont see it happening, but it would still be nice  | |
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| silute
join:2004-09-29
Derby, CT
| Re: The new "economy" tier I didn’t check my speed lately, but from “adelphia times” still using economy tier with 256/256. I don’t get their TV service – just internet. It has been enough for me – no heavy downloading, Voip works, abc shows too.
I wonder if they will upgrade to 384/384 without requiring me to sign up for TV service.
-m. | |
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GlennAllen
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | I have to wonder what their target market is for this "Low Speed Internet" service. It would seem to be customers who want their TV and/or phone service but don't really care about Internet access at all. If they want to attract dial-up users, then they should drop the bundle requirement and just say "Here it is: 384 (or 256 or whatever) symmetric at $25... take it for a spin". I know some people who would love to get off dial-up and have no other option than Comcast but don't want their TV or their phone service. Comcast might lose a few HSI customers to "LSI", but they'll likely make up for it with more new customers. Lots of people just want "cheap" (as in, the cheapest they can get that isn't dial-up) Internet access and nothing more.
So, Comcast... can ya hear me now? | |
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| allgold
join:2005-03-26
East Lansing, MI
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: The new "economy" tier As is typical for Comcast, this is no bargain. Maybe Comcast calls it the "economy" tier but I would just call it the really, really slow tier.
AT&T (SBC) DSL is $20/month for 1500/384Kbps, no contract. Sure, there are some fees on DSL which you don't have on cable HSI so let's call it $22 or $23/month but it's still cheaper and faster. There's also the $25/month (plus fees) Pro package at 3000/512Kbps.
In order for Comcast to be price-competitive--ha, as if--they should offer 1500/384 or 2000/384 for about $22.95. | |
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| | NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by allgold :Sure, there are some fees on DSL which you don't have on cable HSI... Can you specify which DSL fees those are? Looking at my latest at&t Yahoo! HSI bill: No DSL fees. Straight $17.99 per month through July, when the contract runs out; rising to $24.99 per month after that.
Well, that is the way it is in California.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| said by allgold :In order for Comcast to be price-competitive--ha, as if--they should offer 1500/384 or 2000/384 for about $22.95. No. All they really have to do to be competitive is offer this to every home their service passes in that area. Which DSL does not.
BAM
Advantage- Cable.
Although I think the economy tier is a bit too low but Im sure its based off of some sort of market research in regards to price, usage and habits. All of which no one here is privy to but apparently an expert on.
"YUP! ComCrap Screwed up again! Look at those fools, they dont have a clue what they are doing!"
- Comcast reports, yet again, record breaking profits for the 4th quarter in a row!
Ill bet on the jackass in the tie over the jackass behind the keyboard to make corporate nationwide decisions anyday. Especially since one has a winning record and one argues on the internet!
( this want directed at any one specifically, just funny seeing all the back and forths over offerings that "some" people find useless.. yet others find a god send. )
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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GlennAllen
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: The new "economy" tier I totally agree. Competition, price, value--words to live, and buy (rhymes with ___), by.
My choice now: don't want TV, don't want phone, just want Internet access.
My options: Comcast 6M/384 (more or less) for $70 (no bundle, no "retention" pricing), and FiOS 30M/5M for $55 (though the price will no doubt go up after a year, and, if so, I'll drop back to the 15M/2M tier or whatever is around $50-60)...easy decision.
I've already scheduled a FiOS install for later this month. There's Verizon trucks rolling all over this area every day now.
As you say, YMMV. | |
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| allgold
join:2005-03-26
East Lansing, MI
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by NetFixer :In this marketing area Comcast would have a good chance of picking up some new customers. The BellSouth entry level residential DSL service (and the one which is heavily advertised) is the same 24.95 price and it is for 256/128 kbps. Ouch! My condolences. AT&T also has a Basic plan at 768/128 for $15/month.
said by NormanS :said by allgold :Sure, there are some fees on DSL which you don't have on cable HSI... Can you specify which DSL fees those are? Looking at my latest at&t Yahoo! HSI bill: No DSL fees. Straight $17.99 per month through July, when the contract runs out; rising to $24.99 per month after that. I don't know because I don't actually have it -- I just keep eyeing it because it's much cheaper than Comcast.
The last time I was looking into AT&T DSL, I was under the impression that there were taxes and fees added to the base price (just like my POTS bill). If not, then all the better and I stand (er, sit actually) corrected! | |
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| | NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by allgold :said by NormanS :Can you specify which DSL fees those are? Looking at my latest at&t Yahoo! HSI bill: No DSL fees. Straight $17.99 per month through July, when the contract runs out; rising to $24.99 per month after that. I don't know because I don't actually have it -- I just keep eyeing it because it's much cheaper than Comcast. The last time I was looking into AT&T DSL, I was under the impression that there were taxes and fees added to the base price (just like my POTS bill). If not, then all the better and I stand (er, sit actually) corrected! There was only ever an FUSF fee on DSL. The amount seemed to vary by state; it was lower here in California than in the Midwestern states. The FCC rescinded the FUSF last year, effective September, or so. Caused a small ruckus in Verizon and Bellsouth regions; those companies were planning to add a fee to compensate for loss of the FUSF revenue. I think Qwest and Sprint, and I know AT&T just dropped it when it was rescinded. Also, the FCC has exempted a couple of states from the "no tax" requirement, so there taxes imposed in some states. California is not one of those states, so DSL has no extra charges on the DSL side of the bill.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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joetaxpayer
I'M Here Till Thursday
join:2001-09-07
Sudbury, MA
 ·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by TD Nickell :They really won't make a lot of money from it,but its a good human relations move. It depends, right? If it's mostly people downgrading, then it's likely casual users who really paid for bandwidth they never use (not talking about downloading Movies, I mean the email-only type customers). So that would be a loss. If it gets them people from dial-up as a new customer, that's extra revenue.
JOE | |
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theelviscerator
join:2000-11-16
Elkhart, IN | I would pay 9.99 a month no more for those speeds.
considering I am on the top tier, it doesnt interest me whatsoever.
but thats all I thinks its worth. | |
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NyQuil Kid
8f The Nyquil Kid
join:2001-01-06
Brick, NJ | Does anyone know if this plan is available in Brick, NJ 08724?
Thanks!
[8F] The NyQuil Kid | |
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Drakkenfyre
join:2006-05-30
Lynchburg, VA
| Ok, this explains my sudden speed increase a couple months ago
I was on the Basic tier with Adelphia, and some time after the transition to Comcast I noticed one day web pages seemed to load slightly faster, I ran a speed test and was getting 384/384-400, I knew Comcast has been doing some work on the area (TV and internet service had been interrupted sometime prior) so I figured I was getting an unintentional boost and was not going to say anything in case I got dropped back down again, lol
this explains it tho
-Drakk ))) | |
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yettavr6
join:2004-07-26
Plymouth Meeting, PA
| Has anyone had luck in switching to this tier in the philly area? I'm trying to switch my mom as all she does is email and surfing, and the lady had no idea what i was talking about. She said we already had the "economy" plan at 6/384 for $42. My mom doesn't need that speed for what she does, and unfortunately DSL is not available there. I bet if i called to cancel they would know... | |
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| kelso
join:2007-04-06
Ashburn, VA
1 edit | Re: The new "economy" tier I switched in Virginia, but, it was vary strange. I never got the same story twice. Here is my saga..
I went into the local office (about 10 blocks away) and asked about the triple play that I heard about. They said that digital phone was not yet available in the area but that when it was available I wouldn't qualify for the triple play and that I could only get the phone for $33. I then asked about slowing my internet down to the slow rate (had hat it slow once before 256/256) and they said that as comcast, they couldn't sign be up for that speed.
So, I left and went out and got a Vonage phone service for 24.95 a month (unlimited calling) (Vonage works well).
After reading in dslreports about the Economy Tier, I called Comcast on the phone and asked to be downgraded. Comcast said the slow tier was a leftover from adelphia, they were not putting anyone on that tier, and that the tier was being phased out.
Just a few days ago, I stopped by the local Comcast office (10 blocks away) and went in to see what specials they had going on. They asked if I wanted to upgrade and I said yes or maybe slow my internet down. They said it would be like dial up and I said it didn't matter as I didn't use the speed I already had. They then offered me the Triple Play and I said I already got Vonage and wanted to stick with it for a while or until they went under. They looked at my account and saw that I had service since 1997 and then offered me the slow tier for 24.95. I said yes!
Result, I don't know what the real story is or if I just got lucky (even a blind squirl finds a nut once in a while).
Good luck to you on your effort. | |
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| | | eric87m
join:2003-12-07
Princeton, NJ | Re: The new "economy" tier Wow those speeds are pitiful. Typical overpriced crap by Comcast. If the downstream was 768 this would be acceptable, but 384 is just sad unless you ONLY read emails. Watching stuff on YouTube or new web 2.0 sites is probably gonna be pretty slow. | |
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| | | | NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by eric87m :Wow those speeds are pitiful. Typical overpriced crap by Comcast. If the downstream was 768 this would be acceptable, but 384 is just sad unless you ONLY read emails. Watching stuff on YouTube or new web 2.0 sites is probably gonna be pretty slow. I agree. Just about 90% of the people with AT&T land line service should qualify for their "Basic" package at $14.99 per month (328kbps/128kbps).
If Comcast wants to woo me away from AT&T, they need to offer 1.5Mbps/384kbps at about $20 per month.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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| | | | | kelso
join:2007-04-06
Ashburn, VA
4 edits | Re: The new "economy" tier I am happy with the 384/384 for a little more than Email.
A much better deal for me than the 4000/384 speed.
Some things other than Email that work ok for me include...
- Vonage phone.
- Secure VPN connection for telecommuting.
- ssh/sftp connections from the office to my home linux box.
- stream postage stamp size movies to my cell phone using Orb.
- bittorrent (linux iso images, other stuff not 25 gig hdDvd).
- streaming stock quotes and graphs.
- general web surfing. | |
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rody_44
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA
·Comcast
| last i tried to get dsl was less then three years ago. the result was i qualified for a 384/384 plan that would cost 150.00 dollars a month. yes you heard that correct 150 for the same speeds. adsl over in that forum was a big help but that was the best they could do. so anyone thinking comcast is ripping people at 24.99 might want to dig around that forum to see what they charge for people that dont qualify for them cheap dsl prices. | |
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| NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: The new "economy" tier said by rody_44 :last i tried to get dsl was less then three years ago. the result was i qualified for a 384/384 plan that would cost 150.00 dollars a month. yes you heard that correct 150 for the same speeds. adsl over in that forum was a big help but that was the best they could do. so anyone thinking comcast is ripping people at 24.99 might want to dig around that forum to see what they charge for people that dont qualify for them cheap dsl prices. That sounds like SDSL. I can get SDSL, here; 144kbps/144kbps for $99 per month. My current ADSL (3008kbps/512kbps), at $17.99 per month is a much better deal. In 2000, though, there was no cable Internet (ATTBI had the local franchise, then; but they weren't lit up in my neighborhood), nor ADSL (Pacific Bell either had no DSLAM at the C.O., or it was full). But SDSL was available.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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