07-04-2013, 05:31 AM
quote:
Originally posted by terracore
One thing that I found is that you can call up [insert any internet provider's name] and ask, "Can I get internet at [insert exact street address]" and they may say "yes, absolutely." But when you call TO HOOK UP SERVICE you get a different answer. You may get "We're out of ports" or "Our cable doesn't run that far" or a number of different answers. And the answer you get may change day to day.
No, when I call Oceanic they say "Is that a new subdivision? We've never heard of it."
(Hint: it's a pre-Statehood subdivsion.)
Many of the "getting connected" stories I hear seem to involve catching "the guy" out on your street and offering him a beer -- and this isn't simple "greasing the wheels", there are numerous cases of undocumented physical plant, eg, you can clearly see an Oceanic trunk (with taps) on the pole in front of your house, but somehow they don't know it's there.
Telcom is similar; if your location has never had any utilities, they will not be able to find it, even if you provide a TMK, GPS coordinates, and the pole# -- however, they will let you order service, then send someone out for a "survey", make sure you're there to meet them, because the craft guys will be able to explain your "real" location (even if they have to install a new splice because you're the first one to get a phone).