Looking for Tips on DSL providers

[TechTeach]

Wow, has this changed!! The new look and all the affects are awesome.
Kudos to all of your hard work. This is a top-notch web site.

Here at work, a manufacturing firm, we just found out that our DSL provider, CTS/Epix, will no longer be servicing NY. Apparently letters were sent out but we never received any. They are done May 30.

We must begin the (frantic) search for a new provider with a good service policy. There are two of us managing our network and databases. However, neither one of us have any experience with DSL. When it comes to shopping around we don't know what kinds of questions need to be asked and we don't just want to call around blind knowing that we could get sold a bum deal and not realize it.

My first efforts of research are beginning here. I know that you all are extremely knowledgeable as I have used this site many times in the past. Any suggestions or bits of knowledge about DSL providers would really be appreciated. Also we are located in upstate NY, 60 miles south of Syracuse. If any of you are familiar with local providers that would be a huge help too!!

Thanks in advance for your time and responses. Tami

[Floppyman]

Hi Tami,

Nice to see you around again.

I myself don't have DSL or any other form of broadband yet (that's what you get for living in small town USA), but this site may help answer some of your questions. Hope this helps.

DSLReports

[TechTeach]

Thank you Floppyman. The site is proving to be quite useful!

[Xayd]

I will tell ya this. If you're in New York, chances are your telco is Verizon. If your telco is Verizon, get ready for a long ride with DSL installation. They'll refuse to provision your line, miss appointments to test for a signal, refuse to talk to the ISP that you choose, etc. Verizon is anti-competitive to the hilt and is trying to stamp out local DSL ISPs through outrageous line fees and refusal to provision lines which they're required by law to do.

There are several class-action suits being put together in NYC alone to try and do something about this behavior from Verizon, and their response in a nutshell has been "so? Cable internet access sucks too, deal with it."

If you have no options for DSL other than Verizon and Verizon ISPs, then do yourself a favor and pay the extra money for a partial T1 from someone else. If this is a business which requires internet access to function, you're better off with service from someone besides Verizon.

Xayd

[Hosie]

I myself don't have DSL or any other form of broadband yet (that's what you get for living in small town USA),

- floppyman

Iknow how ya feel...Things are the same across the river LOL

[Floppyman]

Hi hosie,

I guess there is hope though, the cable company here has been doing a lot of upgrading around town, and I heard cable internet was supposed to be able this Summer... I'm really hoping for this....dial-up is just becoming too slow for anything.

[Hosie]

Everytime I ask my ISP they just keep muttering the same phrase "sometime in 2002"... and then they usually try to change the subject. I only have two or three choices of ISP's, and the others are even worse than mine... Oh well, cant have everthing I guess, but it would sure be nice!

[glc]

The best business grade DSL provider in the country is Megapath, if they service your area. They were actually able to get their Northpoint customers switched over to Covad before the ax fell on Northpoint - that's impressive in itself. They are not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

[Dharma Lion]

all i will say is: RUN screaming from anything that has a Verizon logo on it.