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.
