<DIV> Visionaries, </DIV>
<DIV> I certainly understand Mr. Moore's position.</DIV>
<DIV> If FSR's donation of considerable resources to make V2020 possible goes unappreciated and even leads to negative reaction from those benefitting from it, then another question comes to mind.</DIV>
<DIV> Why should FSR continue the ongoing donation at all?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Best,</DIV>
<DIV> TL<BR><BR><B><I>Bill Moore <bmoore@fsr.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
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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>
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<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>
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<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 PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><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>
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<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 <BR> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT>_____________________________________________________<BR>List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>http://www.fsr.net <BR>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>__________________________________________________<br>Do You Yahoo!?<br>Tir!
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