I wish I had broadband at home. I'm to the point that I check EVERYDAY at BellSouth's website for DSL availability. Since I have been checking, the result has been the same: "BellSouth FastAccess Service Unavailable." I've also tried to get cable internet, but that was an exercise in futility.
What does it say about the corruption of government - especially at the local level - when only ONE cable company is *allowed* to operate in your area? Furthermore, what does it say when this ONE cable company doesn't even locate any sort of office in your home area? Less you believe that I live in Podunk USA, let me state that my hometown ranked in the top 20 per-capita income in the state of Alabama. That may not mean much to you, but my hometown was ranked the highest in this section of the state! And yet, people who live just across the Coosa river (in Rainbow City, Gadsden, even Hokes Bluff!!), and have a *decent* cable company, have not only the choice of getting cable internet, but also can get DSL!!!!
Meanwhile, I write and complain and respectfully request a time frame for the possibility of getting cable internet and I receive this stupid response:
What!?!?! "based on many specific details which we do not have...."?!?!?! How can anyone make a decision based on many specific details which you don't have? I work at a small business, and if one of the employees made that kind of statement, I'm scheduling a random drug test ASAP!
I thought about NOT making the name of this monopolistic cable company public for a short while. For a VERY short while! Charter Communications is the company. My customer service location is a town over 120 miles away!!!
These guys are living in some fantasy world. Just a few weeks ago, a wind storm caused the cable line from the utility pole to my house to disconnect from my house. Since I don't have cable (I'm a loyal DirecTV customer), I called the Charter Communications customer service office (in Russellville, AL!!!) to inform them that their cable was laying in my back yard and something needed to be done. The customer service rep said that she would send someone out to re-attach their cable to my house. I told her that I didn't want their cable attached to my house - not unless cable internet was available. I was told that the only way that they would do anything with the line was by them re-connecting the cable to my house. "FINE", I said. "Send someone out." The contractor arrived in a short while to re-attach the cable to my house. I told him that I didn't want it attached to my house. I told him to do something with it so that it's not laying across my yard. He said that it would be no problem and I left him. The next day, I checked to see what he had done. Great Job -> he wrapped the excess cable around the bottom of the utility pole.... I hope I don't offend anyone when I say "MORONS!"
What does it say about the corruption of government - especially at the local level - when only ONE cable company is *allowed* to operate in your area? Furthermore, what does it say when this ONE cable company doesn't even locate any sort of office in your home area? Less you believe that I live in Podunk USA, let me state that my hometown ranked in the top 20 per-capita income in the state of Alabama. That may not mean much to you, but my hometown was ranked the highest in this section of the state! And yet, people who live just across the Coosa river (in Rainbow City, Gadsden, even Hokes Bluff!!), and have a *decent* cable company, have not only the choice of getting cable internet, but also can get DSL!!!!
Meanwhile, I write and complain and respectfully request a time frame for the possibility of getting cable internet and I receive this stupid response:
High speed Internet service requires a two way fiber optic plant. In order to provide this to service to you, we would need to either upgrade the existing cable system or construct new cable lines. Construction of such projects requires a significant capital investment. While we would love to offer advanced services to all our customers and provide our services to everyone who wishes to have them, we must determine if the capital investment will produce a reasonable payback.
At this time, based on many specific details which we do not have, there are no plans to upgrade the cable plant in your area.
What!?!?! "based on many specific details which we do not have...."?!?!?! How can anyone make a decision based on many specific details which you don't have? I work at a small business, and if one of the employees made that kind of statement, I'm scheduling a random drug test ASAP!
I thought about NOT making the name of this monopolistic cable company public for a short while. For a VERY short while! Charter Communications is the company. My customer service location is a town over 120 miles away!!!
These guys are living in some fantasy world. Just a few weeks ago, a wind storm caused the cable line from the utility pole to my house to disconnect from my house. Since I don't have cable (I'm a loyal DirecTV customer), I called the Charter Communications customer service office (in Russellville, AL!!!) to inform them that their cable was laying in my back yard and something needed to be done. The customer service rep said that she would send someone out to re-attach their cable to my house. I told her that I didn't want their cable attached to my house - not unless cable internet was available. I was told that the only way that they would do anything with the line was by them re-connecting the cable to my house. "FINE", I said. "Send someone out." The contractor arrived in a short while to re-attach the cable to my house. I told him that I didn't want it attached to my house. I told him to do something with it so that it's not laying across my yard. He said that it would be no problem and I left him. The next day, I checked to see what he had done. Great Job -> he wrapped the excess cable around the bottom of the utility pole.... I hope I don't offend anyone when I say "MORONS!"
