Effing Frontier Communications

[wdfifteen]

Just got off the phone.

The only internet service we have out here in the sticks is Frontier DSL. I've been paying $125 a month for an 18 mbps DSL line.

My neighbor called and complained and they lowered his bill from $125 to $49.99.

So I got on the phone with them about my bill. The guy offered me $49.99 once fiber cable was laid out here. That will be a cold day in hell.
I asked him why 18 mbps copper costs 2 1/2 times as much as much fast optical and he said maybe it is because it costs so much more to maintain copper. So basically, they have no economic incentive to upgrade the service.

The local system doesn't even have a battery backup at the transfer station, so every time the power goes out in this area, so does the internet. I complained to the FCC, who passed me on to Frontier, who told me explicitly that they have no intention of installing a backup and if I'm not happy with the service I can go pound sand. The phone system uses the same wires and same transfer station and so has the same maintenance costs, but they are required by law to maintain a certain level of phone service including having a battery backup. So there is a battery backup in the transfer station and the maintenance is the same - just not one for the internet service.

Bottom line, he told me they offer 90 mbps in our area for $85 a month. Why was I being charged $125 for 18 mbps? He (the first guy I talked to) had no answer. Anyway, through some sort of magic the sales person did, I'm now paying $69 a month for 90 mbps.

It's like they throw darts at a dart board to determine your rate.

[id10t]

So my costs w/ Windstream also went up.

Turns out it was the landline costs going up, not my DSL costs. Since I'd have to hunt in the garage for a phone to actually plug into our landline, I asked and they set me up with a "no voice service" line, dropped my monthly bill from $160 down to $83. If you only use your landline for DSL and use your cell(s) for voice at home, then this may be an option for you. "Dry line" service is similar, but may not be supported in your area (the "no voice" is replacing "dry line" for Windstream. Dial tone, no outgoing calls other than 911, no incoming calls, phone number stays assigned to me if I ever go back to landline for voice)

Like you, I'm rural and I get ~20mbps down (sold as 25), and Windstream has fiber about 100 yards from my front door BUT it comes from a different town/exchange than what my service is on...

[stevej37]

Be sure to watch when your contract expires....your rate will go right back up.
(in your next to last sentence...you mean $125 instead of $25?)

[stealthn]

I think you mean Mbps for DSL.

You could look at Starlink but it’s $$$$

[masraum]

How's your cell service?

I've got T-mobile Home Internet. I work from home and we stream Prime, Hulu and Netflix.

Take a smart phone and go to speedtest or get the speedtest app and run a test (probably 3-5) and maybe in multiple areas of your home like North, South, East, and West corners). If your provider sucks, invite friends over that have the other 2 providers (T-mobile, Verizon, ATT). Have everyone test. Whoever has the best service (or cheapest if more than one is good) then get the cell home internet.

There are a couple of wonky results in here, but when they are outliers. I used to get better upload speeds, but have moved my device. I'm going to try re-orienting my device to improve those, but it hasn't been much of an issue. Like I said, I work from home, and I'm in IT. My performance is 99% as good here as it was when I was in town with a wired connection, but it will depend upon service near you.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Be sure to watch when your contract expires....your rate will go right back up.
(in your next to last sentence...you mean $125 instead of $25?)

Yes, $125

The contract lasts for a year and I know for sure there will be a $10 bump, plus the usual annual raises.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stealthn

I think you mean Mbps for DSL.

Yes, fixed. Thank you.

[KFC911]

I just dropped Consumer Cellular (using an AT&T sim) and ported my number to T-Mobile (I know from experience their service is better here at my house compared to AT&T or Verizon) .... $40 per month guaranteed for life, unlimited talk minutes and unlimited data. Unless you are a high data rate user this will work .... it's how I've talked on the phone and accessed the Internet for the past 15 years. It won't help my speeling, but my posts will be much louder now....

CAN YOU HERE ME NOW?

Compare the three carriers and go with the best service at your location.... it varies.