4 ms·

For the Bay Area, here's an ISP that knows what its job is (and what it isn't): http://www.sonic.net/ http://www.sonic.net/

jedberg 14y ago
I would give them lots of money if they would offer service in my area. :( I loved them when I used them in SF.
- wpietri 14y ago
  Not your fault, of course, but it kills me that consumers in most areas in the US let the ISP market die. The monopoly players gave great intro prices and they all jumped ship. For years, I've paid Speakeasy and Sonic more than I could have paid to a phone or cable incumbent. And I've been happy to do it, because when something goes wrong I get to talk to actual smart people who want to fix things. I'm also sad that our competition regulators allowed this to happen. A pseudo-choice between two basically equivalent options isn't enough for the magic of the free market to work.
  - chimeracoder 14y ago
    > Not your fault, of course, but it kills me that consumers in most areas in the US let the ISP market die. The monopoly players gave great intro prices and they all jumped ship. It's not just that - we subsidized the construction of the Internet channels with our tax dollars, and then the government essentially handed over the control of those to the private companies, who now claim that they can charge whatever they want for access to "their" lines. Consumers may have played a role, but at the end of the day, it's the government (the constituents)[1] who have sanctioned the existing monopolies. > I'm also sad that our competition regulators allowed this to happen. A pseudo-choice between two basically equivalent options isn't enough for the magic of the free market to work. Choice? 80% of consumers have zero choice in their ISP. For me, the only alternative is 'no Internet'. [1] Obviously consumers == constituents for the most part, but I make the distinction to draw attention to the fact that they would need to act in their role as voters/citizens, not as consumers, if they want to change anything.
  - jedberg 14y ago
    I actually paid Speakeasy more money for many years because the service was so much better. I had to give them up too when I moved. :( Sadly, my house is 12K feet past a remote terminal, so it is unlikely I'll be able to get anything other than UVerse or Comcast for a long time.
iProject 14y ago
You’re making me homesick. How many ISPs can (or would) post a news item on their home page re: EFF... “Sonic.net privacy policies recognized by the EFF The Electronic Frontier Foundation assessed the policies of 18 leading Internet companies, and Sonic.net has come out with top marks. The EFF wrote in their report that...” FWIW: No ties to sonic.net
izak30 14y ago
I tried to get service, but I'm 15k feet away, so it was unbearable. I'm calling them before I sign my next lease I think.

jedberg 14y ago

I would give them lots of money if they would offer service in my area. :( I loved them when I used them in SF.

wpietri 14y ago
Not your fault, of course, but it kills me that consumers in most areas in the US let the ISP market die. The monopoly players gave great intro prices and they all jumped ship. For years, I've paid Speakeasy and Sonic more than I could have paid to a phone or cable incumbent. And I've been happy to do it, because when something goes wrong I get to talk to actual smart people who want to fix things. I'm also sad that our competition regulators allowed this to happen. A pseudo-choice between two basically equivalent options isn't enough for the magic of the free market to work.
- chimeracoder 14y ago
  > Not your fault, of course, but it kills me that consumers in most areas in the US let the ISP market die. The monopoly players gave great intro prices and they all jumped ship. It's not just that - we subsidized the construction of the Internet channels with our tax dollars, and then the government essentially handed over the control of those to the private companies, who now claim that they can charge whatever they want for access to "their" lines. Consumers may have played a role, but at the end of the day, it's the government (the constituents)[1] who have sanctioned the existing monopolies. > I'm also sad that our competition regulators allowed this to happen. A pseudo-choice between two basically equivalent options isn't enough for the magic of the free market to work. Choice? 80% of consumers have zero choice in their ISP. For me, the only alternative is 'no Internet'. [1] Obviously consumers == constituents for the most part, but I make the distinction to draw attention to the fact that they would need to act in their role as voters/citizens, not as consumers, if they want to change anything.
- jedberg 14y ago
  I actually paid Speakeasy more money for many years because the service was so much better. I had to give them up too when I moved. :( Sadly, my house is 12K feet past a remote terminal, so it is unlikely I'll be able to get anything other than UVerse or Comcast for a long time.

iProject 14y ago

You’re making me homesick. How many ISPs can (or would) post a news item on their home page re: EFF... “Sonic.net privacy policies recognized by the EFF The Electronic Frontier Foundation assessed the policies of 18 leading Internet companies, and Sonic.net has come out with top marks. The EFF wrote in their report that...” FWIW: No ties to sonic.net

izak30 14y ago

I tried to get service, but I'm 15k feet away, so it was unbearable. I'm calling them before I sign my next lease I think.