Can't get DSL-Help!!!

[jrrdy1380]

I am a very frustrated computer user!! Recently I have tried to obtain DSL service in my hometown. Sprint is my local provider and after switching my service back to them, I was told that I was unable to get DSL. I went online to broadbandreports.com and checked how far I was from the CO (central office). According to this site, I am only out of range by 360 feet.

I hope I am wrong, but I find it very stupid and disturbing that Sprint can not be able to get DSL out to me because of a few hundred feet! I would understand if I lived out a greater distance, but I am still in the town limits and I know there are other places in town that are out further than I am and they can get DSL.

I have also tried to get DSL wireless but their antenna site is just out of range for me to get a signal. I tried my ISP, but since they get their service from Sprint, I am stuck in the same boat. The only available option would be satellite, but the high cost of equipment, installation, and monthly service does not make it very cost efficient for me to use.

Does any one have any ideas on what I should do? Should I complain to the phone company, contact my Congressman in DC, or just deal w/ dial-up until something better comes along, or just suffer? Any comments/suggestions/opinions would be appreciated.

[Mike123abc]

Well you could try to find an alternative provider. You could also ask sprint to come out to your house and verify your line. If you are out of range, not much can be done until they put a switch nearer your house. They put small neighborhood boxes out and run fiber back to the central switch in a lot of areas. DSL was not available in my neighborhood until they put in one of these boxes near me.

Check cable to see if cable modem is available.

Check to see if there is a wireless provider.

Try ISDN. Much faster than dialup, but depends on the rate plans in your state if it is affordable.

[gcutler]

I am a very frustrated computer user!! Recently I have tried to obtain DSL service in my hometown. Sprint is my local provider and after switching my service back to them, I was told that I was unable to get DSL. I went online to broadbandreports.com and checked how far I was from the CO (central office). According to this site, I am only out of range by 360 feet.

I hope I am wrong, but I find it very stupid and disturbing that Sprint can not be able to get DSL out to me because of a few hundred feet! I would understand if I lived out a greater distance, but I am still in the town limits and I know there are other places in town that are out further than I am and they can get DSL.

That is very possible, and I was in that situation 3 years ago, but at some point they built up some more infrastructure and on one of my random checks, it all worked out. I would check every 3 months or so and see what the situation is, it might change. Only question is, does it look like the local phone company is spending money to upgrade their infrastructure, that can be the limiting factor...

[RAD]

If Sprint works like SBC/Ameritech, they have hard and fast internal rules that says once a loop reaches so and so feet they won't provision service. Their reason is that they know with confidence that DSL service at that loop length will work without any problems, over that they start taking service calls which runs up their costs. You only real options are to see if there's a CLEC, such as Covad that will work on longer loops, dig around and see if a wireless provide is available or check on the dreaded cable internet access.

Also, as mentioned, you also just need to keep checking. Until 8 months ago I was >24K feet from the CO but SBC/Ameritech activated a remote terminal (DSLAM) that dropped my loop to <1K feet.

[Neil Derryberry]

The ceo of my company lives in N. Garden, Va.. he is also in Sprint local territory. We eventually had to run T1 facilities to his home to get him on the network (he works out of the house to keep costs down). The unfortunate thing is that Sprint's facilities in the area are badly lacking.... If they won't service you for distance reasons, believe me, you don't want them to try.

[Mark Holtz]

Because of some FCC rule, I can only get DSL through my phone company. Since I live in a territory served by a "small phone company", competing DSL companies are effectively locked out, so the only other choice is Comcast broadband.

[Chris Freeland]

Because of some FCC rule, I can only get DSL through my phone company. Since I live in a territory served by a "small phone company", competing DSL companies are effectively locked out, so the only other choice is Comcast broadband.

I am in the same boat here, I have Centurytel which is not a baby bell. If I am not mistaken the baby bells are required to give access to other DSL providers, however small telephone company's that are not baby bells do not have to do this. My only options are Centurytel, Comcast and satellite. No wireless DSL services in my area that I am aware of. :shrug:

[jrrdy1380]

I have been in contact with my local ISP and they told me since Sprint would have to put a remote termial out in my area in order to get the DSL service. I also recently checked Sprint's website and it shows some additional DSL service in my hometown to be added by the end of 2003. I will just keep checking back with Sprint every other month to see if any progress has been made.

I did check with the wireless provider in my hometown, Wiredog.com, and they are hopeful to be putting up another tower in the next few months. If they are able to do that, I could possibly receive my DSL from them. Charter Communications, the local cable provider, could really benefit from providing cable DSL, but they are very slow in getting service here for customers (I was one of them until recently when my locals from Roanoke, VA finally got on the satellite). It is one of the last advantages that they have over satellite, but it looks like they are no hurry to take advantage of this opportunity.

Thanks for everyone offering their comments, nice to know I am not the only one having to go through this process.