[wplug] Verizon DSL service downgrade

[Michael Semcheski]

Hey Mike,

I think one thing that may trip you up is that Verizon offers 768
kilo-bits per (Kb per/sec) second downloads for $15/month.  Thats not
the same as 768 kilo bytes (KB per/sec).

Remember 8 bits in a byte and all.  So, they may have reined your
download speeds in, but if you're getting 90KB downloads, then you're
getting what you paid for.  (90 * 8 = 720, add 10% for TCP overhead.) 

Something else in your message reminded me of an experience I had with
Comcast.  I canceled my basic cable service (~$50/month) in March.  When
I called and they asked why I was canceling, I said it was because Dish
and DirecTV were cheaper.  (I had no intention of signing up for
satellite service, though.)  Immediately, the Comcast rep offered me
service for $30/month for the next 6 months.  Sort of like with Verizon,
they offered you the same service at a "new" price.  Like "Would you
like to pay $30 or $15 per month for this service?"  "Hmm, let me
consult my accountant and get back to you."

Mike


Mike Sussman wrote:
> Wpluggers, I wonder if anyone else has observed this downgrade.
>
> I have been a Verizon DSL customer for several years, always with the
>  consumer-grade service (max download about 768KB/sec).  I have never
>  observed download speeds greater than about 250KB/sec, but I
> consistently used to see speeds of about 175 doing my Ubuntu system
> upgrades.
>
> Recently, my service agreement expired and I took advantage of the
> reduced price for the "same" level of service.  (The salesperson told
> me that I could either get the higher level of service for the
> $30/month I had been paying or get the same level of service for
> $15/month.  I chose the cheaper alternative.)  Within days of that
> telephone call, my Ubuntu system upbrades dropped to about 95KB/sec.
> About half the speed.
>
> So it seems that Verizon deliberately downgraded my service when it
> reduced my price, despite its advertisement.
>
> Has anyone else had experience with the new Verizon pricing
> structure?