Good ISP

[David P. Schwartz]

Tyler Hall wrote:

> Don't go with QWest -- Microsoft is buying them, according to
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010426/tc/tech_microsoft_qwest_dc_1.html
> Or atleast there buying there there lines and dial ports.
>
> -Tyler

That article says, in part:

> Qwest would also shut down its Internet access business, called Qwest.net, and offer to shift its 500,000
> subscribers to MSN's dial-up or new DSL service, Qwest Chief Executive Joseph Nacchio told the
> conference call.
>
> Closing Qwest.net would help boost profit margins, and the MSN deal could bring Qwest $1.3 billion to
> $1.5 billion in new revenues within several years if the companies meet a target of signing up several million
> DSL subscribers, Nacchio said.
>

Boy, this really sucks!

I've got Qwest DSL service.  They advertise $19.95 or $29.95 per month.  What they don't mention in their ads is that there's another
$17.95 charge for "ISP Services".  They said it's not part of Qwest.  On my bill, I get three charges:

QWEST DSL DELUXE 1 YEAR CONTRACT   $29.95
QWEST.NET INTERNET SERVICES  $17.95
   which is comprised of:
   DSL Internet access  $11.96
   T-NETIX DSL  $5.99

Like long distance used to be, you don't get a choice in the matter.  If you've already got an ISP, tough.  You get to pay for Qwest.net
whether you want it or not.

I had SpeedChoice nee Sprint Broadband, who uses Earthlink as their ISP.  Included in that package are (or, used to be anyway) five
email accounts and up to five hours of dial-up access per month (including 800# access from places where they have no local POPs).
Qwest gives two email accounts, one of which has a name and password you cannot change (it's used in conjunction with your modem), and
no dial-up access at all.

Now it looks like we're all going to get to switch to MSN, whether we want it or not.  (Microsoft isn't buying Qwest, just their ISP
services.  I guess that means the T-NETIX company.)

Just for fun, I checked with a few other DSL providers. I was told by each one of them that it would take 3-4 weeks to turn on my DSL
connection, IF they could provide it, and that nothing could be done until I disconnected my existing Qwest DSL account.

So I wonder how long consumers are going to have to put up with this crap?  It's like, what if you could only call friends who have the
same telephone service provider you've got, even though all the signals get routed through the same local telco?  Why is it that the DSL
provider MUST BE your ISP?  And, why is it that even if you're going through the local telco's lines, other DSL providers have to treat
it as if it's a separate wiring job?

-David Schwartz