Senator Begs FCC to Pay Attention to Soaring Broadband Prices Though Genachowski is Almost Out the Door... Over the last few weeks both AT&T and Verizon have been raising rates substantially for their lower-grade DSL services, in some cases as much as 25% for low speed (as low as 768 kbps) connections that cost the carriers very, very little to provide. Those price hikes are part of a concerted effort to push those users (who the companies don't want to upgrade) preferably over to more expensive wireless services, or to new cable operator partners -- who'll then sell them bundled wireless anyway. Most regulators and media outlets have been oblivious to the cozy plan afoot here, despite the fact it could sever tens of millions of lines, will create a less competitive fixed line broadband market, while driving up the cost of data for everyone. Dave Burstein over at DSLPrime interestingly notes that our reports here on the latest telco DSL hikes hikes appear to have gotten the attention of Connecticut Senator (and former AG) Richard Blumenthal: New customers at Verizon are in even worse shape. After the introductory period, Verizon now wants $57 for one meg, now requiring you take a phone package. It’s at least $67/month for anything faster than one meg. For FiOS, the cheapest service they offer is an amazing $84.95 - and in some FiOS areas they won't sell DSL any more. Bode also reports AT&T increases that appear to be 10-15% but details vary. Neither Cecilia Kang at WsahPo nor any other DC reporter has yet picked up the AT&T story, so DSLR was almost certainly the inspiration for the question. I blush. Blumenthal then did something I hardly ever see a politician do: he went to FCC boss Julius Genachowski and asked him why he wasn't investigating the suddenly soaring prices in the broadband industry: The Senator challenged Julius Genachowski. "AT&T announced a rate hike on their DSL service. This comes just a week after Verizon announced an almost identical rate hike. Both of them trouble me. We ought to pay closer attention." JG tried to change the subject, saying "We’ve seen much better trends in mobile competition over the last couple of years than we’ve seen before.” With the Senator glaring, he added "I’m troubled by rate increases that aren’t based on competitive factors." Then Jules said he’d work with Blumenthal investigating prices. Genachowski has repeatedly insisted he's an FCC boss with a laser-like focus on broadband, yet as Burstein notes broadband fixed line growth has effectively stalled on his watch (while the use of caps and unreliable meters has soared). The agency has also repeatedly and painfully ignored competition issues and the resulting soaring prices. The FCC's national broadband plan, for example, only paid fleeting lip service to competition, while the FCC's already inaccurate broadband maps don't bother to collect data on price because the carriers didn't want them to. The problem is that after ignoring soaring prices and competitive failings for his entire tenure, Genachowski's almost out the door, and the top candidate to replace him at the moment was a former lobbyist for both the cable and wireless industries.
|
 phazah
join:2004-05-02
Findlay, OH | price increases... My basic dsl is going up by $3..
same crappy 2.5mbps....
time to look at time warner... grrr... | |
|  skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2
 ·Cox HSI
 ·Clear Wireless
| Hypocrite Too bad the Senator isn't so concerned with soaring taxes, food and energy costs...the real cost drivers for families. Nope; keep diverting 1/2 the corn crop to ethanol while flooding them with subsidies, keep restricting new energy exploration so we have summer like gas prices in Winter and keep raising taxes...but get us back that $5 that DSL went up.
It is no wonder that Congress is so universally hated, there is no bigger enemy of the people. | |
|  |  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5 | Re: Hypocrite said by skeechan:Too bad the Senator isn't so concerned with soaring taxes, food and energy costs...the real cost drivers for families. Nope; keep diverting 1/2 the corn crop to ethanol while flooding them with subsidies, keep restricting new energy exploration so we have summer like gas prices in Winter and keep raising taxes...but get us back that $5 that DSL went up.
It is no wonder that Congress is so universally hated, there is no bigger enemy of the people.
Yes. And regulatory price fixing has proven to fail over and over again.
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Senate - get off your butts and actually create a budget that has spending cuts 3x the amount of tax increases like you promised.
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| | | |  PaladinSage of the light
join:2001-08-17
Chester, IL | So the government can't handle all those things and cheap broadband at the same time? That's news to me. | |
| | | skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2 | Re: Hypocrite Now you know. | |
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| IanR
join:2001-03-22
Madison, NJ | Re food prices.
I suspect that we will see the lowest prices, in years, for food this year as the harvests likely come in with bumper yields. This is because the winter storms (snow falls particularly and rain) over the mid west and crop growing regions have removed the worst of the drought conditions in MANY States. We obviously haven't see the knock on price effect yet, but wait until we get into the growing season this spring and markets anticipate terrific yields. IMHO. | |
| | | skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2 | Re: Hypocrite I will believe it when my Pringles are back under a buck. Corn is the cost driver...used in tons of stuff and as feed stock. | |
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| zefie
join:2007-07-18
Hudson, NY | Lets complain when a politician tries to do something good for people for once. Sure, it shouldn't be the top priority, but its SOMETHING. It could be NOTHING. | |
| | | skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2 | Re: Hypocrite Every day they waste time on this, is another day the American people are harmed by their inaction. | |
|
| | | Ya know they can work on more than one thing at a time. We are last in speed and cost of any industrialized nation, behind even Romania. | |
| | | skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·Clear Wireless
| Re: Hypocrite Bull. We aren't last out of any industrialized nation, not even remotely close.
»www.netindex.com
Even if we were, it isn't a problem for the inept Congress and bankrupt taxpayers to solve.
Meanwhile you want skewed averages like Romania, outlaw DSL. | |
| | | | zefie
join:2007-07-18
Hudson, NY | Re: Hypocrite I'd love to see an average for NY that excludes NYC. I bet that would be nice and low. | |
|
 BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | How do you create more competition? Seriously everyone says "more competition" no one explains what that even means. You're not getting another cable company to more into your town. You're not getting another telco moving into town. So seriously where is this "competition" coming from? | |
| | axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC | Re: How do you create more competition? Municipal funded broadband and co-ops are a start.
Blocking mergers on anti-trust grounds would have helped, but it's too late for that now.
Overturning Powell's corrupt decision that IP services are not communication services can only help.
Government shouldn't be setting prices, but I think they could stop giving USF funds to AT&T + Verizon, and give it to WISPs and other very small players. | |
| | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: How do you create more competition? How would blocking mergers do anything?
Not every community would invest in municipal broadband. Heck our library almost closed down because the county refused to fund it. Bigger cities sure. The rural areas where broadband is hard to come by and thus more expensive, nope.
How does ruling that IP services are communication services help? | |
| | | | CXM_SplicerLooking at the bigger picturePremium
join:2011-08-11
NYC
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
| Re: How do you create more competition? I agree that blocking a merger does nothing when the companies work together anyway but ruling Internet connectivity a necessary communications service and regulating certain standards would be beneficial to the consumers. For one, I think enough conflict of interest has been demonstrated between the businesses of last mile connectivity and content provider that the two should be separated. | |
| | | | PaladinSage of the light
join:2001-08-17
Chester, IL | said by BF69:How would blocking mergers do anything?
Not every community would invest in municipal broadband. Heck our library almost closed down because the county refused to fund it. Bigger cities sure. The rural areas where broadband is hard to come by and thus more expensive, nope.
How does ruling that IP services are communication services help?
Ever heard of the provisions in the 1996 Communications bill that unbundled the local loop? We could go back to that regulation to begin with.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local-loop_unbundling | |
| | | | | fg8578
join:2009-04-26
Salem, OR | Re: How do you create more competition? said by Paladin:said by BF69:How does ruling that IP services are communication services help?
Ever heard of the provisions in the 1996 Communications bill that unbundled the local loop? We could go back to that regulation to begin with. » en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local-loop_unbundling Reclassifying broadband service as Title II would go a long way toward restoring sanity to this market.
Forcing ISPs to offer unbundled broadband "loops" would ensure access by end users to third-party ISPs (just like back in the dial-up days) which would almost certainly drive prices down, IF the FCC forced the incumbent ISPs to offer those BB loops at a reasonable wholesale rate.
I'm not holding my breath. | |
| | | | | | WhatNowPremium
join:2009-05-06
Charlotte, NC | Re: How do you create more competition? Most of the 3rd party firms could not make it when the telcos had to lease the lines to them below cost.
What counties need to do is get a private company to build last mile FTTH as said above without any content. They just provide transport and the customer deals with a content company for the content and equipment like you deal with your power company. The Fiber company has a connect point on the side of the house like your power meter and a POP site where the Content company connects to their network. The Content company also provides all the connections and equipment needed inside.
I like to see a whole county involved so people living outside of a town limit will not be left out. Government can help but I would like to see them stay out of them running the system. One option would be for the Power company to build the system if the cable or telco will not build it. | |
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|  camaro92Question everythingPremium
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA
·Comcast
| said by BF69:Seriously everyone says "more competition" no one explains what that even means.
I know this is a stretch but maybe cap what percentage they can raise rates per year based on how many loophole's these company's use to screw the government out of taxes, it won't create competition but if it takes away there abilty to do this crap, that would be a good start.
The whole raising rates because of maintenance, equipment etc. let's take a quick look at that logic, I don't know about people in here but I can't remember the last time I got a raise so that's a lie, you don't need to be a tech expert to know equipment prices are staying the same or dropping, another lie. And I can't remember the last time I saw any trucks running new line's so where are these upgrades? a few switches and routers in the head end is not a upgrade. And prob. the big one is programming cost..... The last time I looked aside from NBC, ABC Etc. all these channels don't have a massive distribution system to get there programing out and without that no advertising dollars. Comcast, At&t, Verizon own the bulk of the distribution system sooo instead of bitching why don't these company's throw there weight/ lobbying dollars around. So I would like to finally see a better argument for always raising prices across the board and always strangely the same percentage across all providers. | |
| | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: How do you create more competition? last time I checked I have ONE choice for electricity. | |
| | | |  tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8
 ·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| Re: How do you create more competition? said by BF69:last time I checked I have ONE choice for electricity.
Here in NH electricity generation was decoupled from distribution. We only wanted one set of wires but anyone can generate electricity. You are able to buy electricity from multiple suppliers. The grid being a monopoly is heavily regulated, power generation being competitive less so.
It has been a little rocky as with any major change: too many underfunded entrants chasing too few dollars but I think on balance it will work out well.
The
| |
| | | | Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
| Oh yeah! Wait until you live in the second smallest state. Everything is a "masked" monopoly. I only have one choice for almost every service, so don't ask me about prices.
Back to topic! I think what the senator did is a step in the right direction. If at least 5 senators would do something like, we would see some results from the FCC. Now, the internet providers are making it almost impossible for people to get only broadband from them. They figured that people don't care much about TV and home phone. So, if you want internet only, they make you pay anyway for the other services. Listen to this: $89.99 for 50/25 Mbps Fios, TV, and phone (with 2-year contract) Vs $64.99 for 3/1 Mbps FIOS only. That tells it all! | |
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| | Internet prices.... My internet costs me as much monthly as filling up my tank weekly with gas. Sure, it might me more expensive than heavily subsidized internet in other countries, but internet is one of my cheapest expenses every month and unless you subscribe to insanely high priced packages, it probably is the same for most people. I see internet as one of the best valued services I pay for on a monthly basis. Senators have more important things to be worrying about. | |
| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Internet prices.... said by silbaco:My internet costs me as much monthly as filling up my tank weekly with gas. Sure, it might me more expensive than heavily subsidized internet in other countries, but internet is one of my cheapest expenses every month and unless you subscribe to insanely high priced packages, it probably is the same for most people. I see internet as one of the best valued services I pay for on a monthly basis. Senators have more important things to be worrying about.
You don't have a mobile phone with data plan? ... how about multiple phones in your household?
"Internet data" IS in fact getting way out of hand.
What really gets me is the ignorance of all the arm-chair quarterbacks in this tread and this forum in general. As much as I loath the federal government, and most government today in general, the fact is that you guys see things through tunnel vision. You can't see beyond your own narrow focus. The government and congress DOES do more than one single thing at a time.. in fact they're rather efficient at screwing up MULTIPLE things at one time.
Many of you act like the government is here JUST to lower your broadband prices.. I swear.
But as to your comparison of a tank of gas.. horrible. Like I've said for years, stick with facts at hand and not compare apples to oranges. Points can be made with out comparing your internet cost to a fill up in your car.. I just turned in a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid that cost me $30 to fill up and got me near 600 miles to the tank. If I do the math, my internet cost me more per month than it does to run the car.
But, my internet costs me $120 a month for my mobile plan and $59 a month for home service and that doesn't include the forced modem rental that I can't buy on my own. I certainly don't think that $179 a month is "reasonable" for the internet. It's a controlled, monopolized cash grab by an industry that is taking advantage of the people all while controlling the very government that should be controlling it.
Wake up. | |
|
| | Though Genachowski is Almost Out the Door... "Genachowski's almost out the door, and the top candidate to replace him at the moment was a former lobbyist for both the cable and wireless industries." Meet the new boss... | |
| | | lol like the the FCC will do anything its like the do nothing congress | |
| | | No Regulations and Price Creep Our various levels of government seem to be abandoning basic services like dsl, or its low speed (1-3 Mbps) cable modem equivalent, through lack of regulation and allowed price creep. Dsl is now being priced just like our local stand alone basic internet (2 Mbps) at $40/month advertised price. Surely everyone can afford a Cadillac? WRONG!
A basic level of service should cost no more than $15/month for standalone phone (with mandated QOS) and maybe $25-$30/month total cost if you include 1-2 Mbps internet with the phone service.
Internet service should also be considered a telecommunications service and regulated as such. Why you say? Well grandma just had her phone service switched to VOIP by her cable provider during an "improvement" service call. They didn't explain the change to her (still using same phones on jacks) and little did she know that no backup battery was provided. Sure enough, a few days later our unreliable, poorly regulated, monopoly, publically traded electric company had an outage for several hours and her phone went dead. Unacceptable!
Price creep is similar to wireless phone services. Unlimited calls and texts for everyone, but at a higher base rate. At least with wireless you can switch to pre-paid, MVNOs, etc.
Price setting (at affordable rates) with public utilities is very common with water, sewer, and electric. There is no good reason this can't be extended to basic "landline" phone and internet access as a foundation for connected citizens. Monopolies require strong oversight! | |
| | | Congress Critters This is the way Congress works. When a senator needs some campaign donation grease, he calls out the company in question for a public tongue lashing. Then the AT&T lobbyists call him back in private. | |
| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Congress Critters said by posthaste:This is the way Congress works. When a senator needs some campaign donation grease, he calls out the company in question for a public tongue lashing. Then the AT&T lobbyists call him back in private.
WELL SAID! | |
| | | | Exactly!
The corruption in our government is rampant and out of control now.
I wouldn't be one bit surprised if bribery isn't occurring in situations like this right now. | |
| | | | | Re: Congress Critters said by horseathalt7:Exactly!
The corruption in our government is rampant and out of control now.
I wouldn't be one bit surprised if bribery isn't occurring in situations like this right now.
C'mon! I KNOW you have to know better than that?
I wouldn't be one bit surprised that if every single elected official in Washington, was actually investigated for some kind of bribery, tax evasion, or just about any other kind of illegal activity, AT LEAST 75% of them would be in jail!!
Of course, they would just bribe the judge or who ever necessary to get out of it.
The government is probably the one place that is even more corrupt, untrustworthy, or anything you can think of, then the cable companies or telcos!!
--
The Firefox alternative.
»www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/ | |
|
 morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | Broadband competition is a thing of the past It's nice to see that broadband competition is of some interest to at least this one Senator. Competition is a good thing, yet here the U.S. is with some of the slowest and most overpriced internet service in the world.
The latest strategy of telco (AT&T & Verizon) to rid themselves of DSL customers by raising prices and not upgrading speeds is working. The customers are going to cable internet; however, the price to consumers isn't cheap.
The reality is that there is no broadband competition anymore. Because of this, prices will continue to skyrocket and service will suffer. This is great for the duopolies providing service, but it comes at a steep cost to consumers. | |
| Reviews:
 ·Google Voice
·Junction Networks
·Callcentric
·T-Mobile US
·AT&T U-Verse
| data on price Yeap, not only does FCC not collect data on price, but they also seem to completely omit ISPs like Paxio.net, which now offers Gigabit service at only $138.50/month. And Paxio recently had some extra progress on their Emeryville project, »EmeryConnect.com/, which aims to cover the whole city, in cooperation with EPOA: »www.epoa.us/tag/paxio/, and, supposedly, even offer free WiFi across the city, »evilleeye.com/in-the-neighborhoo···-eville/ .
I'm collecting data on some competitive offerings of true broadband (symmetrical 100Mbps, or, at least, above symmetrical 20Mbps), including the prices, at »bmap.su/. The site is raw, and it's just a no-thrills list for now, because, unfortunately, there are still too few 100Mbps/100Mbps offerings across the nation to make it worthwhile to make the site interactive yet.
However, we already have several commercial providers that offer not just 100/100 at under $100/month, but even 1000/1000 for under $150/mo! Which, I think, is just awesome! »fiber.usinternet.com/ lists 1000/1000 for $100/month, in Minneapolis, MN.
And, the funny thing is, in-the-middle of nowhere places actually have much better broadband offerings than some major metro areas like San Jose, CA. Take a look at Cedar Falls, IA, »cfu.net/. A tiny rural town with a population of 39k in the middle of nowhere, but has 16/8 @ $44/mo, and 120/60 @ $138/mo, with many tiers in between.
And all these offerings are a living proof that 100/100 under $100/mo is possible pretty much regardless of how small the town is, and telecoms like AT&T simply don't do their job right if they still offer service based on kbps, when others already offer not just Mbps, but even Gbps. | |
| | | | Re: data on price I see what you mean about the more Rural areas. In almost the entire State of Maine, GWI offers POTS and DSL at relatively low rates.
Their basic service is 7/1 for $29.95 which can be added to basic phone service for $16.95 or something like Unlimited Nationwide for $33.45. The phone includes Caller ID and Call Waiting as well. Their "premium" service is 20/1 for $34.95.
Better yet, about two years ago, their 3/768 service cost $29.95, so they've actually upped the speed and kept the price the same over time. | |
| | | bn1221
join:2009-04-29
Cortland, NY Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: data on price My mom is in Frontier and TW land. 1000 feet from the CO. Five years ago she had 1*6 DSL from Frontier for 49.99. Now she has 1*3 RoadRunner for 29.00 (that is a non promo/regular price). I called Frontier up to see what she could get for DSL. 128kbit (no typo) by 3 mbit down.
That particular CO has dual OC48s in it for a village of 500 people. At 1000 feet she should be able to get 2*24 with ADSL2+.
So..there is some progress. | |
|
| | | To be fair, Cedar Falls is part of a group of towns that all bleed together known as the Cedar Valley, or more precisely the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area, with a pop closer to 163K. Mediacom serves the greater area, as well, with 20/1 Internet service for $48/mo, whereas CFU service (now FTTP) is restricted to just Cedar Falls addresses. | |
| | djcrazy
join:2009-08-05
Minneapolis, MN Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
·Comcast
1 edit | said by ConstantineM:However, we already have several commercial providers that offer not just 100/100 at under $100/month, but even 1000/1000 for under $150/mo! Which, I think, is just awesome! »fiber.usinternet.com/ lists 1000/1000 for $100/month, in Minneapolis, MN. OMG! I hope they decide to start moving towards the western subs. They have a data center in Minnetonka which I am also fairly close to and I can drive to their already established areas in 10 mins. The installation is a bit steep at $495 but for 1 Gbps symmetrical for $99.90 a month, I would gladly hit it and drop comcast! | |
|
| | Reviews:
 ·DIRECTV
1 edit | Re: CLECs may be an option in some locations The way the companies that control the broadband industry are behaving, clearly calls for it being categorized as a heavily regulated utility.
Prices for even the most basic services are spiraling out of control (if you can even get basic service at all) and it is true that today broadband service is essential for everyday life activities, which wasn't the case even a decade ago.
There is NO reason why basic 1-2mb service should be higher than $20/mo in price and these companies should be FORCED to offer a basic plan that is affordable to most people. For that 20 it isn't like the customer is getting something for nothing either, just a manageable cost for those on a limited budget. | |
|
ndwbr
join:2003-07-10
Atlanta, GA | Call AT&T and get your rate reduced Folks, the squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease. Call AT&T and tell them you are unhappy with your rate increase and you want a discount. I was given the phone number by the AT&T Billing chat room support person and called - 50% off for 6 months. Heck by then I might even have ditched AT&T all together... | |
| fg8578
join:2009-04-26
Salem, OR | Title I vs. Title II This is a direct result of the FCC classifying cable modem service as Title I way back when.
That was a grievous error for which all of us continue to pay the price (literally as well as figuratively). | |
| ajac
join:2000-08-15
Norman, OK | well data in general is getting more expensive despite the claims its getting cheaper to deliver. | |
| | | | Re: well Care to back that claim up with some sort of data because Karl has provided a few articles indicating you're wrong. | |
|
| | monopoly We Consumers are being sucked dry by cable/Dsl Providers that have bad service or refuse to Upgrade their service,One Provider is Wind-stream DSL service they aren't updating their network anymore, and Cox Communications that offer these Promo offers and screw the customer.
These Providers need to be investigated Monopoly also. | |
| | | sounds like... Price fixing and collusion to me, just like gas pumps...and when we try to get a politician to investigate, all we ever hear is 'We find no evidence to support the allegations of collusion and price fixing, the market determines the costs for the consumers, as it always has.'
Yeah, right. | |
| | |
 linicxCaveat EmptorPremium
join:2002-12-03
United State
·CenturyLink
| There is a cure FCC is not effective and should be disbanded and here is why: It is HELPING AT&T. Century Link, Verizon, to dismantle the only communication infrastructure the US that has ever been able to depend on in a time of a national disaster.
DSL, the faux POTS. is no more reliable than a cell phone. it is dependent upon a provider who actually wants to provide a service.
While Lady Justice may not always see an issue clearly, FCC and Congress is clearly blind as a bat.
--
Mac: No windows, No Gates, Apple inside | |
| | | Time Warner Columbus OH Roadrunner they charge me $24.95/month for 15/1 Roadrunner! | |
| | | | Re: Time Warner Columbus OH Roadrunner said by khettinger1 :they charge me $24.95/month for 15/1 Roadrunner!
Bright house (Volusia county) about $52/month 10/1 Roadrunner
So over double what you pay for less. I suspect the difference is the competition in the area. | |
|
1 edit | vote I wonder how many expressing opinions here, vote. Just wondering because I don't and therefore don't feel I have the right to express my outrage. | |
| |  robot
join:2003-07-02
Palos Hills, IL | Re: vote I vote and what does it get me? Turds in Congress arguing and not getting things done. | |
| | | | said by unibroker:I wonder how many expressing opinions here, vote. Just wondering because I don't and therefore don't feel I have the right to express my outrage.
I definitely vote and I pay attention to this stuff. Make sure to try to get editorials in your local newspaper and maybe show up at city and county council meetings too. Bring up the subject. A few good "Are local citizens getting a fair deal for internet?" type articles in the local paper could do wonders for awareness. The problem is though that sometimes these companies are involved in funding these businesses through ads or other sponsorships. In that case just make all the noise you can on comments, blogs, forums, facebook, etc. Eventually it can snowball. Try to avoid making it a Left vs Right issue because that is the kiss of death. It's an issue for all internet users in the area regardless of political parties. | |
|
| | DSL Reports Still Doesn't Get It There is, very clearly, an FCC-led effort to do away with central offices, for A BUNCH of good reasons.
Guess what? Call time Warner and tell them you are an AT&T wireline customer wanting to move over to their service, and here is what happens if the Time Warner rep is properly doing their job:
Either the prompts you picked on the IVR already got you to this place, or you get warm transferred. Where you should be is in a department that uses promos that have to be authorized with the FCC and are based on what type of service you are dumping, and how your new service fits into the move to wireless data.
You will not find the promotions on the Internet. You might have had them offered either by direct mail or a door-to-door person. They are not public.
I can tell you that switching to time Warner or any other cable home phone puts you on VOIP, and VOIP is easy to move to wireless. You will get fast service, even if you only get broadband, but you will get a really good deal if you either take cable VOIP or bundle with their mobility provider (complete with your new carrier even offering to pay off your ETF, also something not found on Internet).
This is more evidence that convinces me this website has somehow had a wholesale drop in the IQ of the people who run it, because all of these "screwed" DSL customers have a red carpet rolled out for them to get out of the issue - right down to the level that the FCC is mandating they have prices and plans and services specifically tailored to their situation regarding availability of service.
If this isn't intentional, then this website did an atrocious job of staying educated about the evolution of broadband availability to consumers. | |
| | Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: DSL Reports Still Doesn't Get It said by Badreporting :
This is more evidence that convinces me this website has somehow had a wholesale drop in the IQ of the people who run it, because all of these "screwed" DSL customers have a red carpet rolled out for them to get out of the issue - right down to the level that the FCC is mandating they have prices and plans and services specifically tailored to their situation regarding availability of service.
If this isn't intentional, then this website did an atrocious job of staying educated about the evolution of broadband availability to consumers.
Hey! Stop dissing the DSLreports Peeps.
I am eager to dump ATT.
My slow 2.34 MB DSL went from $14.95 a month to $43 a month. I'd like to hear about it. TWC serves my area and it's not cheaper than that, or not much. $40, and hopefully not as slow.
When I called TWC I got a bunch of doubletalk.
If you know something about available broadband that doesn't suck, spit it out. | |
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