Finding a new ISP
Jul. 31st, 2019 09:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I got a friendly letter in the mail today from Time Warner Cable (you know, that giant media conglomerate that is trying to disguise itself by rebranding as Spectrum) that our "promotional discounted rate" is coming to an end after a year and now they're going to charge me $180 more per year for teh internets.
I mean, I'll give them a call and declare that I will cancel no matter what, but at the same time, when we moved in I couldn't find any alternative ISPs for my area (city of Albany NY). There's an awesome-sounding ISP called Hudson Valley Wireless in Upstate New York, but they said they don't have coverage within Albany (maybe somebody drove them out, ahem).
Am I really stuck with a terrible monopolistic media conglomerate that spams me with unwanted advertising for the television set I'm never going to get? I told them as much from day one, but still the stupid junk mail comes.
And for those who don't already know this, this type of business scheme is very common for insurance providers: punish anyone foolish enough to remain loyal to your business for an extended period of time, reward the twitchy people who will cancel and switch periodically (usually, what, about once a year?). They do it because it works, but it's stupid and I hate it.
Subscription services are generally evil.
I mean, I'll give them a call and declare that I will cancel no matter what, but at the same time, when we moved in I couldn't find any alternative ISPs for my area (city of Albany NY). There's an awesome-sounding ISP called Hudson Valley Wireless in Upstate New York, but they said they don't have coverage within Albany (maybe somebody drove them out, ahem).
Am I really stuck with a terrible monopolistic media conglomerate that spams me with unwanted advertising for the television set I'm never going to get? I told them as much from day one, but still the stupid junk mail comes.
And for those who don't already know this, this type of business scheme is very common for insurance providers: punish anyone foolish enough to remain loyal to your business for an extended period of time, reward the twitchy people who will cancel and switch periodically (usually, what, about once a year?). They do it because it works, but it's stupid and I hate it.
Subscription services are generally evil.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 01:57 pm (UTC)Our internet connectivity and speed have been good, yes, at least. Which is the main reason we've kept them until now. Well, that, and not having any clear alternatives.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-01 01:03 am (UTC)Edit: I'm a doofus. You said modem, I said modem, and I think it's clear that for some reason I thought you meant the cable box. We have our own modem and router, because it was easier to replace our own than to ask them to come out and do it when theirs fritzed.
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Date: 2019-08-01 01:26 pm (UTC)Yeah, we don't have a cable box. This most recent modem is a modem + router combination, which is handy.
And that's a great point about being able to deal with things yourself instead of scheduling someone to come out, which is a hassle and also costs money.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-31 10:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-01 01:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-02 05:02 am (UTC)One snag is the laptop there is a bit of a work server. When exactly is the shut-off date as it stands? At the very least, I should try to coordinate around that.
It would be nice not having to be online.
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Date: 2019-08-02 01:56 pm (UTC)I haven't made any phone calls yet. Will let you know so we can make the appropriate plans. Other arenas of life have been keeping me busy.
Yes, it *would* be nice to not have to be online.
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Date: 2019-08-01 01:02 am (UTC)It's the landline that's the real draw, as I'm constantly misplacing my cell and this makes it irritating for my mother to call me and ask me to let her in.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-02 05:03 am (UTC)