Re: No pain, no pair gain?

In article <onHcg.13941$fb2.12841@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx says...
krw wrote:

... It might be possible to bitch enough to get them to fix
the problem (but distance may still be a problem). If there is
cable available this is good leverage too.

The motivation of the phone company to grant such wishes will likely be
low. First, they are usually a monopoly, so there is no competition
except cell phone. Second, they do not make money off dial-up customers.
On the contrary, if that customer uses a local dial-in node of an ISP
not related to the phone company they won't even make money for the many
hours of line time.

They are *not* a monopoly anymore and getting less so every year
(and they know it). As you've pointed out one may have the option
of cell phones (we went that route), but there is also cable
Internet (went there too) and Vonage (not there - no need). If
it's in an area that these alternatives might work l'il Missy Bell
might be *very* motivated, since they're sucking swamp water. It
can't hurt to twist some levers. The worst that can happen is a
"sorry". The OP has already been told that he can get DSL. Add on
Vonage and...


It's coming and may be that way some day, but in many areas not right
now.

True for many areas, though they're getting smaller.

Cell out here would become quite expensive if you'd ditch the land
line. Just imagine you'd have to dial into the web when broadband is
down. You'd hear a loud slurp and that were your "free" minutes. Gone.

If I needed broadband for work it would justify a satellite
connection. In a pinch, there is always the public library or an
open WiFi connection somewhere. Maybe even a book. ;-)

Cable, yes we have that but IMHO they aren't very smart in marketing and
I bet Missy Bell knows that. They always tout their cheap fast Internet
but when you want to take them up on it a wee footnote is in the way:
You must subscribe to their TV deal to get that rate, else it's higher
than Missy Bell's. Nah, not going to do that. That isn't what I call
competition. Same with TV. We don't have cable, don't want any.

Our cable company sure knows how to market high-speed Internet they
do it on TV, even. ;) Our provider (like most) charges $5/mo. more
if you don't subscribe to their cable TV, but it is available
without a tie-in.

But Missy Bell
desires part of that pie so now they want to break into that market
which, whether we want it or not, is a de-facto monopoly. Meaning
currently they can't. Which means the cable company can pretty much set
their prices as they please.

Cable companies have to compete against satellite too. There is no
(widespread[*]) monopoly there anymore.

[*] there are certainly holes in coverage for any over-the-air
service.

--
Keith
.

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