OT: Internet DSL Charges

[LANMAN]

Just wanted to vent a bit as I attempted to express my opinion about the DSL prices that our local telco charges for DSL service. I wrote the CEO a letter and it trickled down to the area supervisor

First of all, I know that they are "polictically pressured" (-Telco Rep) to provide DSL service to the entire area they service. Now remind you, in Northern Minnesota, they service even towns that have populations smaller then 500 so they have a large expense in reaching out to these far places.

Secondly, the neighboring telco has higher bandwidth and very noticable differences in their charges. My telco's reasoning: "Because they like to 'cherry pick' the populated areas and offer DSL service at a loss, in hopes everyone will jump on and buy even more services."

My Telco:
Speed: Private IP Public IP
128k/64k $29.95/mo. $34.95/mo.
256k/128k $44.95/mo. $49.95/mo.
384k/192k $59.95/mo. $84.95/mo.
512k/256k $79.95/mo. $124.95/mo.
768k/384k $109.95/mo. $169.95/mo.

Neighbor Telco: (NOTE: They offer nothing less then 512k)

512kbps
$36.95
768kbps
$49.95
1000kbps
$69.95
1250kbps
$89.95
512kbps Net Connection Package*
$59.95
768kbps Net Connection Package*
$72.95
1000kbps Net Connection Package*
$92.95
1250kbps Net Connection Package*
$112.95

What do you think?? Bunch of B.S.??
Sure sucks to pay through the noise for DSL speeds that really are not that fast. (ie...512k $125.00/mo!)



--LANMAN

 

[lobadobadingdong]

ouch, sbc charges 26.95 for 1.5Mb down, 256k up

even our pos cable company is 39.95 for 768k down, 128k up for cable internet (59.95 if you aren't a cable subscriber....I love my dish)

 

[jdiddy]

Damn those are some crazy prices there gouging you man. I'm thank full for my Verizon 1.5/384 for 29.95.

 

[ViRGE]

You should invest in your telco, they have to be making a ton of money off of plans like that.:Q

 

[Coolkid]

Wow, even more expensive than here in aust :Q

 

[Silverthorne]

I have a 3Mb/256k for around $40 through Charter in Duluth,MN.

 

[networkman]

My TDS service is about $45/month for 768/256.

I used to have Comcast cable, but the ping times even to main trunks were averaging over 400ms! :Q

 

[LANMAN]

(oops.. forgot to hit 'quote')

You should invest in your telco, they have to be making a ton of money off of plans like that.

**************

Can't, it's a CO-OP.

They give us capital credits at the end of the year, but it doesn't add up to much. Last check for the YEAR was $20.00.

Through the same Telco, I also purchase two public phone lines at $20.00 each, and Dish Network for $40.00 a month.

My company spends around $4,000-$5000.00 per month in phone, T-1, and other services with them, but do you think that they would give a discount on a so called package deal? Humm.. no.

--LANMAN

 

[ProviaFan]

Those are some freaking awful DSL prices, LANMAN. :|

SBC is in my area, and the 26.95 (or whatever it is) DSL is tempting, but the bit about it jumping back up to $50-ish after a year doesn't sit well with me, as I'm sure I'd get addicted by then, but there's no way in #3!! that I could afford the latter, so back to dialup it would be (and that would bite).

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: jliechty
Those are some freaking awful DSL prices, LANMAN. :|

SBC is in my area, and the 26.95 (or whatever it is) DSL is tempting, but the bit about it jumping back up to $50-ish after a year doesn't sit well with me, as I'm sure I'd get addicted by then, but there's no way in #3!! that I could afford the latter, so back to dialup it would be (and that would bite).

it doesn't jump back up at all. I've had it for 3 years and the price just keeps going down.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
it doesn't jump back up at all. I've had it for 3 years and the price just keeps going down.

That's odd... I was reading the fine print, and it seemed to me that they said that the price went up after a year... maybe that's just in Indiana, or maybe I misunderstood (not uncommon with legalese). Hopefully the latter, because then I'll be signing up soon.

 

[Hyperfocal]

Originally posted by: jliechty
Those are some freaking awful DSL prices, LANMAN. :|

SBC is in my area, and the 26.95 (or whatever it is) DSL is tempting, but the bit about it jumping back up to $50-ish after a year doesn't sit well with me, as I'm sure I'd get addicted by then, but there's no way in #3!! that I could afford the latter, so back to dialup it would be (and that would bite).

Just as my original contract with SBC was about to expire, they e-mailed me with an offer for a another year at $26.95 (which was lower than my original $29.95) if I would agree to another year contract.

They can't afford anyone on month to month. They will lose to the next cheapest provider.

 

[cavdraco]

ouch im getting 4.3 down for $32 a month

Cav

 

[CyGoR]

Even here in The Netherlands where everything is expensive, I've got 2.2Mbit/512Kbit for ?54 (which is about $60 or so..)

But the prices you named are way to expensive, do they even sell acounts with these prices??

 

[Sonic587]

Whoa...those are some AWFUL prices...I'm getting 3.0/256 for $50. And that's cable...

Have you checked out dslreports? They are the best source for finding reasonable prices on broadband

dslreports.com

 

[EvilWobbles]

Verizon is upgrading the speed available for most of their DSL accounts, I was just upped to 1.5/384 for 29.95 a month from 768/128.

It's been my experience with any of those "promotional rates" that if you call when your deal is about to expire and tell them you want to cancel the service, they will find a way to keep your business at the same rate and sometimes even less money. All you got to be sure of is that you are willing to cancel the account if they don't budge.

I've got Verizon DSL for $29.95 because I told them I was going over to Comcast and I've got Comcast Digital cable TV for $30 a month for the next year because I told them I was getting a dish. You've just got to wheel and deal a little. No prices are set in stone. Even with large companies

 

[soni]

Just a bit under 80$ for 512Kb/512 here in denmark, so yes its quite expensive (thought denmark was expensive, guess not)!

 

[mikecel79]

I've got SBC DSL for $26.95 a month. 1.5MB/256k which isn't too bad. But I miss the 3.0/256 I used to get with Comcast

 

[JarrodHammack]

I am doing SBC business DSL for $75 a month.

1.5 MB down and 256k up. (I have business DSL for the 5 ip's and hosting of my website)

 

[rgsaunders]

You are getting hosed, local pricing here in Eastern Ontario follows, note prices are $CAN.
Residential DSL
29.95 - 128k/64k - 2GB month data transfer - 1 login
44.95 - 3Mb/800k - uncapped data transfer - up to 3 simultaneous logins
79.95 - 4Mb/800k - uncapped data transfer - up to 3

Business DSL
49.95 first 6 months then 59.95
3Mb/800k - uncapped
89.95 4Mb/800k - uncapped

All accounts except Basic Residential include 5 email addresses, virus filtering, spam filtering on primary account, 1.50 month for spam filtering on additional accounts. Residential accounts include 10 hours of national/local dialup access as well, business accounts 20 hours. 5MB storage per email account with residential, 20MB per email account with business. No setup or activiation fees, modem included. Webmail access included. Other additional packaging options available. Do the currency conversion and you will see that this is a fair deal. http://www.kingston.net/page_131.html

 

[RaySun2Be]

Yikes!! :Q

I'm paying $36.00 monthly for wowway cable, 512K down, 128K up. But you can get 4meg down for $55 per month.

My son and his roommate have the 4meg connection. Not that they do much downloading of movies and such.....

 

[kb9skw]

368Kbps SDSL for my lab is $172 a month with a 60 month contract. We are getting the service for the 256Kbps price of $134 a month, under the same contract.

Now this is a business grade DSL line, it never goes down and always has a stable connection speed. Unlimited IP addresses and network monitoring bla bla bla.

Hay I don't pay for it, its part of the phone package.

ChoiceOne BTW.

 

[Runamile]

wow. I pay $30 a month(first 6 months promo, soon moving to $50). I have cable, but I almost ALWAYS get a sustained 3Mb down and a horribly lousy 350Kb up(ive been spoiled). Its so sweet dl'ing 650MB in half an hour.

 

[LANMAN]

Originally posted by: Runamile
wow. I pay $30 a month(first 6 months promo, soon moving to $50). I have cable, but I almost ALWAYS get a sustained 3Mb down and a horribly lousy 350Kb up(ive been spoiled). Its so sweet dl'ing 650MB in half an hour.

:shocked:






All of you have it made. I'm going to share your comments with our telephone tech that visits the office once in a while. He knows the prices are crazy too, but still they do nothing.

They're probably just too busy spending thousands of dollars in labor and equipment to install DSL for 2 people 25 miles away from the central office. :roll: Is that a wise investment I tell you? They should just say, "Sorry, your too far out of the area for DSL; you'll have to use dial-up."

That makes too much sence though.

--LANMAN

 

[OverVolt]

I heard SBC had a 6mbit/608k line, anyone know how much that is? My 3mbit/256k is holding me down at $42/mo (i had a promotion for $20/mo for 8months or something) i just hope they dont find out i have more then 5comps or they'll force me to buy a business package