Re: [TCLUG:15736] MediaOne

[Gabe Turner (officer) <dopp@acm.cs.umn.edu>]

Actually, I learned a little secret from someone I know who works at USWest:
A lot of people near the TC can't get DSL from USWest, so they call Onvoy.
Onvoy, of course, wants to be a major DSL competitor.  The thing is, Onvoy
doesn't install the phone lines, USWest does.  So when you can't buy DSL from
USWest and Onvoy takes you on as a DSL customer, USWest is _legally_ required
to run the lines so that Onvoy can give you DSL, since they control all of the
lines, and therefore, could monopolize over the DSL market.  So, once you've 
gotten your Onvoy DSL, you'll then be eligible for DSL from USWest, since they
had to run new lines for you to be an Onvoy customer.  Crazy, eh? :)

Gabe

> 
> Tim Neu writes:
> > I, too cannot get DSL.. (funny, since I do have ISDN currently) - however
> > I need a connection that I could use from the outside world as well.  
> 
> Who did you ask?  USWest wouldn't give me DSL, even though I'm in the
> middle of St. Paul, have had ISDN (lines are still there), etc.  It turns
> out when they installed our second phone line they used a line splitter
> instead of using one of the old ISDN lines (or they other second line
> that was installed before ISDN).  They wouldn't remove the splitter
> to put in DSL, even though I would cancel my second phone line, and
> wouldn't need the splitter.  And yes, DSL *is* in my area, both my
> immediate neighbors can get it (and one is).
> 
> Onvoy was happy to take my DSL order.
> Now I'm switching my local phone to Onvoy, too.
> I can't stand USWest.
> 
> With Onvoy, you get 1 static IP, and ADSL (up to 768 downstream,
> something less upstream), which is better than USWest's rates.
> It's a little more expensive, too, with some hefty termination fees.
> 
> Now get this.  Friday *USWest* arrives to install my DSL line.
> Onvoy contracts with Covad for DSL, and one of them contracts with
> USWest to run the physical line.  OK, I thought that might happen,
> but it's still pretty ironic!
> 
> -- 
> John Hesterberg			email:	jh@sgi.com
> Technical Lead, HPC Linux	phone:	651-683-5879
> 
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-- 
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Gabe Turner		President, ACM @ U of MN		gabe@cs.umn.edu

"YOU _GAVE_AWAY_ $47 MILLION DOLLARS??  You fat, bloated eediot!"
						- Ren Hoek in "Stimpy's Big Day"
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