# Internet service providers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770 "2010-10-29T15:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/1 "2010-10-29T15:01:28Z")
I’m moving to a new town tomorrow and the only high speed internet provider available is Comcast. I never near anything good about that company. In fact, the guy beside me at work is also moving and he’s been on the phone quite a few times the past week, for long periods, trying to get service setup. I hope I have no issue with them. I also hope I don’t have to be at the new place during some obscene time window just so their technician can initiate service (I work an hour from home). I hate the monopoly service providers have in some areas. I have a feeling I’m going to miss Verizon DSL. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/2 "2010-10-29T15:03:10Z")
What town are you moving to? There are often small, local ISPs that are available. For the record, I have Comcast internet and don’t mind it at all… ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/3 "2010-10-29T15:04:43Z")
> [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](#): > > What town are you moving to? There are often small, local ISPs that are available. > > For the record, I have Comcast internet and don’t mind it at all… I’ve been looking all over on line and only find Comcast and some company I never heard of offering dialup. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/4 "2010-10-29T16:18:50Z")
Ugh, cable and internet providers have complete monopolies in some areas. Utterly outrageous, and if the President and Congress didn’t have more pressing matters to attend to (something about a war or two on?) I’d think perhaps someone could draft up a little legislation to break the monopolies up a bit. (Ah, the joys of capitalism and the free market.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/5 "2010-10-29T16:27:52Z")
Isn’t wireless USB stick technology available? ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/6 "2010-10-29T16:32:16Z")
You still didn’t tell us what city… ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/7 "2010-10-29T17:02:22Z")
I had bad experiences with Comcast years ago. Just recently moved and found Comcast was the best deal for our situation. I’ve been (pleasantly) surprised at their customer service; they seem to have made a very concerted (and mostly successful) effort to improve. The most notable bothersome thing was their automated service appointment confirmation – unless someone answers the call at the time they make it, they cancel their technician’s visit. Somehow, they got the wrong phone number for us (they had a “977” rather than “997”) and left me hanging. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/8 "2010-10-29T19:30:12Z")
Comcast works well enough in my area, it’s just the prices are high and they keep giving customers “exciting new packages” which means less service and higher cost. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/9 "2010-10-29T19:38:23Z")
I’ve seen a lot of disparagement of Comcast, but I’ve had it for years and never had any real problems with it. There have been some occasional outages, but never for very long, and I’ve found the customer service very responsive. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/10 "2010-10-29T20:05:49Z")
I’ve had Comcast for a long time as well. I can’t say I love it, but I will say they’re generally fine, as long as you don’t have any problem you need fixed. To be fair, in the years I’ve been with them, I’ve only had to deal with their customer service a handful of times. Thankfully. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/11 "2010-10-29T23:44:25Z")
Make SURE you check out verizon’s FIOS page to plug in your address. They aren’t advertising where I am much (Pittsburgh) but they are HERE, and I discovered by randomly plugging my address in. Unfortunately I’m under contract, but when I’m not, it’s buh-bye Comcast, you evil cocksucking sumbitches. ((The only people who have had worse stories than I have had with Comcast have been featured on the news/consumerist/etc)). ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/12 "2010-10-29T23:49:40Z")
If you’re going to have a landline, aren’t there any number of DSL providers? I used to use NetZero DSL, it was $25 a month, I think, and AT&T has a dry-loop DSL service that doesn’t require an active phone line, just the jack. Have you plugged the address into all kinds of providers to make sure they don’t serve the area? Usually you only get the “ad” type stuff from multiple service cable-type places like Comcast. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/13 "2010-10-30T00:38:20Z")
I had plugged in my address with both Verizon and AT&T and neither are in that area. Comcast charges waaaay too much, imo. I’m used to not having cable, relying on Internet streaming. Looks like it’s my only choice. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/14 "2010-10-30T01:53:56Z")
Make SURE you ask the price for basic cable + internet and the price for just internet. My bill is 60some a month with basic and internet and just internet would have been $5 more. This is the problem when monopolies exist. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/15 "2010-10-30T02:27:40Z")
I’ve got Comcast for cable, internet, and telephone. I’m satisfied with all 3 services. I even used the phone to call 911 last summer, and it worked just fine. The telephone service is cheaper for two lines than AT&T was for one line. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-service-providers/558770/16 "2010-10-30T15:40:11Z")
I think Comcast varies wildly by where you live. In LA, we never had a single problem with it. In Pittsburgh, I feel as though every other week an issue pops up.