DSL Service

Our Dec. 21 package on digital subscriber lines drew a significant response from readers--most sympathizing with P.J. Huffstutter’s experience trying to get DSL up and running at home. Here’s a sample:

“I spent over $350 upgrading my computer so it could accept DSL and I could not connect. I even went as far as adding a new separate line that would only be used for the DSL connection. The new telephone bill I have just received, [shows] I am being charged for DSL as of Dec. 1 and for installation of a line that does not work.”

--BILL YORK

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“I have signed up four different times--each time with a different company in the hope that one of them will bring me high speed access. Each time I’m told that I qualify, that I need to give my credit card and that an installation kit is on the way. I’m still not a DSL customer. The problem, as I am told each time, is that I live 300 feet farther than the outer reaches of the DSL hub. Yet I can literally throw rocks at people in my neighborhood with the service. To make matters worse, I continue to get fliers placed on my door telling me of my ability to get DSL service.”

--HOWARD BEECH

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“Believe me, your experience pales in comparison to mine. It took me six months to get my DSL service from PacBell. Heck, that you were actually able to get through to Verizon on the phone put you light years ahead of me. My average hold time to get through to PacBell was in excess of 90 minutes. There were a total of 5 missed service calls. It is a great service once you are up and running, but getting there may make the service not worth the hassle.”

--JERRY DWORKIN

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“Rest assured that [Verizon] is an equal-discriminatory company. They act the same toward all their customers. DSL is, we were told, available in our area but, for some unexplained reason, we could not get it in our office.”

--GENE TOTON AND PEGGY FULLER

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“After having been warned about the potential perils involved, [we] joined the DSL community a couple of years ago. However, we found an ISP that coordinates its efforts with the telephone company, so our only direct contact was with our ISP representative. As a result, on the appointed day a then-GTE installer appeared at our front door, modem in hand. In less than one hour we were connected and data was flowing. It’s been fabulous ever since. We wanted to provide you with an encouraging word, and we hope your DSL woes soon turn to joy.”

--STAN AND DIXIE COUTANT