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I'll keep it short - I've had enough. The absolute last straw was discussed in this thread [webmasterworld.com] in which it was made clear that my ISP is actually hijacking my DNS to direct invalid URL's to their "partner" search engine web site.
Additionally when you "opt out" of this "search service," the search engine's site displays a "web page " ripped right from MSIE's "DNS error" DLL - even in FireFox. A blatant violation of Microsoft's trademark.
So my question is this: Can anyone recommend sources to contact that will help bring light to this issue? I don't want to waste anyone's time ranting and raving on a message board, I would like to contact someone who could actually do something about this company. Media, BBB, anything helpful?
Calling the company is completely worthless. Their support is all overseas, anyone that would do any good is sufficiently insulated from any meaningful contact.
* FAP = Fair Access Policy, if download bandwidth exceeds a certain amount in 24 hours, bandwidth is cut back to a trickle. For my pro plan, this would mean 425 MB in a 24 hour period - this bandwidth was used up in a matter of two hours. No one was here.
EDIT: BBB report filed, for all it's worth.
No help to you, but at least they'd get some wrath.
BTW, what are scruples?
If your computer managed 425MB while unattended, then you've got something running on there that's using up some serious bandwidth... I'd be looking into that -- and/or pulling the plug before leaving home!
You might also want to look into "fixed wireless" service providers and Internet Service provided by cell-phone companies. There are short-haul fixed-wireless providers who often put their wireless transceiver equipment up on rural water towers, and longer-range fixed-wireless providers whose coverage expands on the typical 5-to-15 mile radius of the short-haul FW providers. Then there are the services from cell-phone companies; These tend to be more expensive, but if you make and receive cell-phone calls, then it's likely you can get Internet service.
The main advantage over satellite is the greatly-reduced latency, in that the round-trip first-hop ping time goes from 500 milliseconds down to about 10.
I used to be on satellite, and the cost of these services is comparable or less than satellite.
Jim
If your computer managed 425MB while unattended,
This is exactly what the satellite company tries to say, among other things to divert the issue and place fault on the end user. There is no way I can see this happened during the time frame they are suggesting. We *do* have a teen in the house, and she has a "problem" with video. Since the last incident I've begun logging data at my router. Nothing I can tell passed through during this time. Not even any Windows updates. I also thought my AVG might be at fault, I ran a "housecall" on all comps. Nothing nefarious at work. I don't know how else I can check - but the satellite company should be able to, just look at the logs!
You might also want to look into "fixed wireless" service providers and Internet Service provided by cell-phone companies.
We have one wireless company here that sold to several of our neighbors. It's down every couple days for anywhere from 4 hours to several days at a clip. :-(
There is a second satellite company I'm looking at, more expensive, who knows if they are more reliable. They have not responded to a couple questions about their service, so that's not looking good either.
Certainly there must be some agency with more power than the BBB to knock some heads around. :-)
Here the mobile phone companies have just started doing 3G mobile broadband at reasonable prices, via a USB dongle for your PC/laptop.
Although if you're in a rural area I guess you wouldn't get 3G anyways. :(
