Our local phone monopoly was, until very recently, Bellsouth. They were surprisingly responsive to problems, and did a general good job of keeping me flush w/ phone and internet (DSL) service. With all of the baby-bells coming home (read: AT&T is buying everyone) however, our monopoly has changed hands. Bellsouth and Cingular are now AT&T. So, naturally, our phone (and thus internet) was out from around Monday to late last night (Wednesday). When I call them, they alway sign-off the call with “Thank you for choosing AT&T.” That really is one of my biggest pet-peeves. I always have to fight the urge to say, “Had I a choice, I certainly would NOT have chosen YOU!” Harsh… I know… but damn… I really don’t have a choice. Our local cable monopoly (Charter) is worse (much worse) than AT&T. So what can I do? It always reminds me of the old 70’s SNL skit where the quote was, “We don’t care. We don’t have to. We’re the phone company.” It’d be hilarious if it wasn’t true.
I’ll tell you this though. The very day that either Google or Georgia Power, or anyone for that matter, releases broadband-over-power-lines, or even a decent Wi-Fi solution, I’m jumping to their ship for internet and VOIP phone. If my damned AT&T wireless cell phone worked at my house, I probably wouldn’t even have a home phone. Grrrrrr….
O Google!.. please release us from the tyranny of the local cable and phone monopolies, that we may bask in your glory and sing unto thee hymns of praise.
Doesn’t Athens already have a city wimax provider?
I don’t think so. I’ll try to find out though. I know Bellsouth had some wireless internet service going, but it was only really good for the area surrounding downtown. I’m more toward Winterville… so I doubt anyone is out there. I’ve also heard things about WindStream, but it also doesn’t get this far out. If you know of something else, please let me know.