Our New Foe Has a Name: Sprint

Once upon a time, my humble blog was the very first result on Google for "Verizon Sucks" (and I still think they did back then when we moved, but I'm back with them for as a wireless provider) & I'm not fond of Comcast's monopoly either. However, I never in a million years thought I'd be basically "begging" them both to please provide internet for my new address, pretty please!! because I already HATE the internet provider we're forcibly saddled with even though we don't even have service in our new house yet to begin with. (and that's part of the problem) I hear horror stories from whoever I talk to and K & I have decided to wage a war against this company even before we are officially their customers. Too bad I just found out, through Wikipedia, the new most "reliable" and certainly  most updated source of information in the world, it won't be an easy fight because another telecom "giant" owns our much hated local monopoly company.

Breathe, breathe, breathe. I'm telling myself right now. I'm so upset, having just called Comcast to disconnect the internet from the rental place on Friday. And I know it's a silly first-world problem, but still. The internet is my life. Not only am I hopelessly addicted ti ut because it connects me to my friends and family to all over the world, but also because it provides me with a cheap phone line in which I can make limitless calls all over the world (35 countries -- remember, we have family in Brazil, New Zealand, Canada, etc.) and now I would be even able to call cell phones in Brazil! (this is our voip provider). It is also indispensable for work because I communicate with my students at home, post their grades online and even do a big chunk of my instruction through Blackboard.

so... yeah, the prospect of having a really bad DSL ISP which I'm told breaks down with every strong storm (and you know there have been lots of storms everywhere in the country lately) just drives me insane. It doesn't help that since we began sleeping at the new house last Friday we have been going (sometimes very late at night) to the old rental place to go online and do some work and catch up on email and stuff.

Of course this is partly our fault because I could have set up an appointment with Evil Local Phone Company (ELPC) last week on Monday, but K wanted to make absolutely sure we had nowhere to turn to but them before we made it official. I called them last Friday and I have YET to hear back from them with a date for installation and when I can go pick up our package for self-installation at their headquarters. BLAH.

In conclusion: after an exhausting day tag-team parenting*, I'm still here at the university trying to tie some lose ends that require internet and writing this post... We will survive, but I knew it would be INSANE to move during the last week of the semester. I have oral exams to give (which will take many hours tomorrow and Thursday) and K is in the middle of an interview week with candidates to a 2 year position in his department. Then, I have to write two final exams over the weekend and give them on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

OK, let me get a grip and quit this whining. Now, does anyone know anything of what I have to do to try to FORCE this ELPC and its owner or partner Spring QUIT monopolizing service for this area (particularly because it is VERY, VERY BAD and within a few miles of other counties which offer other services)? Where do I start? Last week K called the FCC, which directed him to the local Virginia communications office and they assured him there was no monopoly. We'll have to start digging deeper. I wish I knew some good lawyers. ;)

* I drove our youngest son and 3 of his 1st and 2nd grade classmates to a field trip at a museum 2 hours away, then helped a bit in their tumbling class (in school), dropped the boys off at home, ate something super fast, dressed Linton for soccer, traded cars with K who was coming from the University and drove down here to show a film for my students while K took L to soccer and is now putting the boys to bed. (my parents are still here, but we only have two cars. At least they cooked for us and are helping us put things away).