[Vision2020] Making the switch to a local ISP

[Mike Hall]

Welcome aboard Joan.  Thanks for your support.  

 

On the high speed wireless service, just give us some time.  We've expanded
it to 18 communities throughout the region now - even Bovill - and are
working to make it available to more and more areas throughout the vast
spaces in our county and others - especially for those that have no other
option for broadband.  

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Mike Hall

Area Sales Manager

First Step Internet

888-676-6377 Ext. 540

208-882-8869

http://www.fsr.com <http://www.fsr.com/> 

mikech at fsr.com

  _____  

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Joan Opyr
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 4:34 PM
To: Vision2020 Moscow
Subject: [Vision2020] Making the switch to a local ISP

 

Dear Visionaries,

A few days ago, Kevin Owen, the owner of First Step Internet, contacted me
via email with a challenge: it was a very polite and courteous challenge,
but he asked me, "If you really want to promote and support local business,
why don't you support ours? Why do you use Earthlink's as your ISP?" It was
a damn good question, and I gave it considerable thought. I had tried First
Step about 2 years ago, but the dial-up service was spotty out where I live,
halfway between Moscow and Troy. More recently, my brother-in-law, who lives
just up the hill from us, called First Step and asked them to do a site
survey to see if they could supply us with wireless. Unfortunately, they
couldn't; we're not in sight of the Troy Water Tower, which is the big test.

Nevertheless, I liked Kevin's question, and I liked Kevin. I bombarded him
with questions about webmail and security, viruses and spamblocking, and he
answered all of them patiently, thoroughly, and without using any
incomprehensible computerese. In short, he was everything I like in a local
retailer -- smart, informative, courteous, and committed to providing
excellent service. This beat the hell out of my recent experiences with
Earthlink's overseas call center, which told me that the loss of my EDITED
BOOK on their webmail server was really "too bad." 

And so, I'm making the switch. I dropped my Dell CPU off at First Step this
morning for repairs, and I asked them to set up my new First Step Internet
account featuring Propel, which will render my dial-up account 5X faster
than Earthlink. I'll also shave a few bucks off my monthly bill -- First
Step charges $18.95; Earthlink $21.95. It makes good sense all around.

First Step is a Moscow-based business. It's a good business; it employs a
sizable number of people, pays them well, and offers them a good working
environment. (I intend to write a New West piece on First Step just as soon
as I get my surgical staples out and can drive myself to town again.)
Furthermore, First Step has hosted -- at no cost -- the Vision 2020
unmoderated list since its inception. They've done this in the face of
repeated criticism that they ought to shut it down or kick folks off or
otherwise interfere in the free (if not always easy) exchange of information
and ideas and worthless drivel that make up our fun, funny, freaky group. I
appreciate that, and I appreciate Kevin Owen. I also want to put my money
where my mouth is. Sometime in the next few days, I'll bid Earthlink a less
than fond farewell, and I'll say, "Hello, moscow.com!" I'm looking forward
to it. And so is my publisher -- I've asked them to wait to re-send my
EDITED BOOK until after I've switched to a reliable server. 

Man! Those Earthlink ads with the happy fairy tale creatures -- it's a fairy
tale, all right. Perhaps Jack in the Beanstalk has my EDITED BOOK?

Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment
www.joanopyr.com



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