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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Welcome aboard Joan. Thanks for your
support. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Mike Hall<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Area Sales Manager<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>First Step Internet<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>888-676-6377 Ext. 540<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>208-882-8869<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a href="http://www.fsr.com/">http://www.fsr.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a href="mailto:mikech@fsr.com">mikech@fsr.com</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Joan Opyr<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, December 07, 2005
4:34 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Vision2020 Moscow<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] Making the
switch to a local ISP</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear Visionaries,<br>
<br>
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 <st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City> and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Troy</st1:place></st1:City>. 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.<br>
<br>
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." <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment<br>
www.joanopyr.com<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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