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If You Read One Broadband Horror Story, It Should Be This One
Numerous users have sent in this Consumerist piece highlighting one man's failure to get broadband deployed to his new home -- a new home CenturyLink and Comcast insisted they already served pre-sale. Not only were CenturyLink and Comcast not able to service the home, the customer spends months running a gauntlet of what can only be called absurdist art disguised as customer service. What should have just been a "sorry we don't serve that address" evolves into a Kafka-esque exploration of modern American broadband. I won't add more of a synopsis, it's a story you should really read for yourself.

Most recommended from 207 comments



ctaranto
join:2011-12-14
MA

1 edit

15 recommendations

ctaranto

Member

Internet is a utility

Today, having reasonable internet access 24/7 is necessity for a lot of people, like running water, electricity, and (those of us who are lucky enough) natural gas. When we bought our house in 1999, we were focused on many typical things (schools, neighborhood, etc), but also internet access. We eliminated many towns in our area because they did not have it (in 1999).

The impact to some people is enormous. Just replace the word "internet" with "electricity" in the article. Sometimes, it is the same impact.

Now you might think that cellular internet is an option. That's the same as saying a generator is an option to power your house without hard wired electricity. It's an option, but not a very good one.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

2 recommendations

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

At least I know what to look for

I know what a cable tap looks like. I'd look for one within a reasonable distance of the house I'm thinking of buying.