RCN "upgrading" phones in Somerville to "Digital"..??.

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

   Anyone know anything about this? We received a letter stating we had to setup a time to have their technician come in and convert us.  I had been trying to talk my wife into dumping cable (and Phone) to do everything with an Internet connection and an antenna using a free phone like Ooma, (kind of like MagicJack).  She objected stating a solid land line phone is reliable and works even when the power goes out -- An important Safety issue. 

 Well they put our New Modem in about 2 weeks ago and it has already gone out twice taking the phone down along with the Internet. I can't call my house right now and there is no easy way to check for missed calls when the service comes back.  They want me to wait at home ALL DAY Saturday (no 3 hours slots available), their technicians have "hectic schedules" so they can't guarantee a call prior to showing up...  They can; however, guarantee a $49.95 Charge if I miss them...

 Has anyone tried that new Clear Internet 4g wireless service?  Is DSL still available? I need a fast connections and I see that Comcast charges 100 Plus for their fastest service.

If we don't win the Google Fiber, shouldn't Somerville start our own municipal fiber broadband service?

Comments

[smammy]

My understanding is that RCN has copper loops for landlines in Somerville, making them real land-lines with an independent power source and all. It sounds like they're getting tired of maintaining that junk, so they're switching people to VoIP. These sorts of systems generally have their own dedicated channels on the cable line, so they're not competing for bandwidth with your Internet connection. The interface with your existing phone equipment may also have a built-in battery, so they may continue to work if your power goes out. (You may want to check on that.) Essentially, they're less "real land-line" than a traditional copper loop to the switching office, but way more real than something like Vonage or Ooma.

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

there is a 5 hour battery on their new modem... so their modem would work but not necessarily everyone's routers, computers, or cordless phone's base stations..

Maybe instead of a 50 dollars refund they should just give you the modem instead of charging you 5 or 10 dollars a month to rent it , and they should throw in a small UPS so that you could power your router, phone and a pc or two with...