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<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Fox and Vision2020
subscribers,</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><?xml:namespace prefix
= o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I<SPAN
class=066344417-10122004> </SPAN>feel that I must respond to your charges of
poor customer service and inadequate network</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">resources. Vision 2020
is a <SPAN class=066344417-10122004>forum </SPAN>made available to the
community through the donation</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">of considerable
resources and expense by First Step Internet. I feel it is in <SPAN
class=066344417-10122004>very </SPAN>poor</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">taste to use this
venue to spread unsubstantiated rumor and innuendo about First Step<SPAN
class=066344417-10122004>.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=066344417-10122004>W</SPAN>e as a company<SPAN class=066344417-10122004>
</SPAN>have spent time enough chasing windmills for Mr. Fox that we
have</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">come to<SPAN
class=066344417-10122004> </SPAN>more or less expect this sort of attack. I'd
really rather not get into technical</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">issues of mail-server
horse-power and bandwidth. Our bandwidth is more than sufficient
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">to handle our
customers' requirements. That is why when the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> went looking for a </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">redundant carrier to
handle their network load when their network fails, they chose First
Step.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If Mr. Fox were
willing to schedule a time to speak with our technical support team (he's
not),</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I'm confident that we
could diagnose whatever perceived problem he is experiencing. I see</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">from our customer
support records that we have never failed to respond to Mr Fox's calls;
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">the longest he's had
to wait is 2 hours. We have two levels of technical support, and in
the</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">event that a problem
remains unresolved<SPAN class=066344417-10122004> at level 2</SPAN>, know that
my partner Kevin Owen and I </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">are always<SPAN
class=066344417-10122004> </SPAN></SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">available to respond.
Despite Mr. Fox's assertion that his "problems" are "widely </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">talked with some
</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">degree of anger and
impatience about among wireless FSR customers," I </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">can promise him<SPAN
class=066344417-10122004> </SPAN></SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">that the vast majority
of our clientele are very happy with their service. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please don't ever
doubt our commitment to the community and region. First Step is now nearing
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">completion of a
redundant ring of wireless access points that will finally bring high-speed
internet</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">access to the
digitally disadvantaged of rural Latah, Whitman, Nez Perce and Asotin counties
at </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">a cost to First Step
in excess of $500,000.00. We believe in our region and we will continue
to</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">support our region by
donation of service, hardware and support.<SPAN class=066344417-10122004>
Our commitment to excellent</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=066344417-10122004>customer service should never be
doubted.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=066344417-10122004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=066344417-10122004>Sincerely,</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Bill Moore</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Co-Owner, First Step
Internet</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> vision2020-bounces@moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Art Deco aka W.
Fox<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 09, 2004 8:51 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Vision
2020<BR><B>Cc:</B> First Step Internet<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020]
V2020 Problems <BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Ted, et al,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I may be wrong, but below is a
possible explanation of the FSR email, V 2020 problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>First, it is not just V 2020 but emails
from various sources and geographical locations that are sometimes delayed up
to six days. Some emails have been forever lost.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>The servers at FSR have a maximum
capacity to handle email. When that capacity is exceeded, the emails are
cached somewhere else and retrieved, if possible, when the system has enough
unused capacity to handle them. Sometimes it is not possible to retrieve
the cached emails on a timely basis or to retrieve them at all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Another problem concerns the allegations
that certain users emails are being read by certain FSR staff.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>When I first signed up with FSR, the
technical support was very good and one seldom had to wait. Now, it is
hard to get connected on call to them; leaving a message sometimes leads to a
long (more than a day) wait. The last experience I had was with someone
who could not find the problem of why I could not connect to the mail server
and seemed to have no idea of how to investigate the problem. (I always
do the obvious before calling, including a cold boot just in case of an OS
foul-up). He then said it was a problem with my machine. A few
hours later without any more action on my part, the mail connection started
working again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I am on a wireless connection.
Sometimes it works very well. Sometimes it is pathetically slow, due
probably due to FSR's insufficient bandwidth.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Further, FSR is on a number of span-block
lists. This means that certain ISPs will not accept any emails from
anyone using FSR. I reported the problem yesterday after receiving
another message saying my email was blocked because FSR was considered a
spammer. The problem was acknowledged by FSR with a very short note
saying that they are working on it. It may be a problem with virus
infected machines of FSR users who are spam robots and/or real spammers.
This explanation would also explain the sluggish response at times. It
is alleged that FSR does not have the adequate hardware, software, or
technical expertise to find the spammers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>I like to support local businesses.
However, the problems above are beginning to lead me to consider finding a
more reliable, more secure, and more responsive ISP connection.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4>Has anyone else had these problems?
Or different explanations/solutions?</FONT></DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"
size=4>
<DIV><BR>Wayne</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Wayne A. Fox<BR><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>PO
Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID 83843<BR>208 882-7975</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Tbertruss@aol.com
href="mailto:Tbertruss@aol.com">Tbertruss@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 08, 2004 9:50
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] V2020 Problems
</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR>All:<BR><BR>It took about one minute for
my last post to post to the list. So why after six hours has my
previous post from earlier today not posted yet? Some computer God
must know.<BR><BR>Ted Moffett</FONT>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_____________________________________________________<BR> List
services made available by First Step Internet, <BR> serving the
communities of the Palouse since 1994.
<BR>
http://www.fsr.net
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