Is your internet connection slower than Congress trying to pass health reform? If so, here is some good news. There are some new and useful tools to help you deal with your dragging broadband.
Broadband ISPs
Who Owns The Internet? And What Color is It?
What exacly IS "the Internet"? And how does my Tweet get from me to all the other people who are waiting breathlessly for it?
Google Gmail Voice and Video Chat, YES!
Google released its Voice and Video chat today, and our own unscientific tests here at New Media Rights and UCAN show that the audio and video quality easily rivals competing services such as Skype. The biggest difference is that this is Google making a move into the voice and video area and it has the potential to alter the playing field a fair amount.
Comcast serves up more consumer abuse
San Francisco Chronicle: Comcast is limiting bandwidth to 250 GB a month. It's a bad deal for consumers, says UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames. More.
Time Warner Roadrunner "Turbo" broadband Internet: Are you really getting what you paid for?
Recently I had to "choose" a broadband Internet provider. After having my "choices" narrowed down for me by a serious lack of competition ( I hear U-Verse is on its way some day), I went with my first, last, and only choice, Time Warner. Despite feeling trapped, the Time Warner customer service rep wooed me with promises of a new broadband paradigm, Roadrunner "turbo." For some reason this "15 Mbps down, 2 Mbps" up Internet was cheaper than the default 8 Mbps/ 1 Mbps option of yesteryear, so I pounced on the deal like a caged tiger given extra scraps of meat at dinner.
The moral of this story is to check the bandwidth you're getting from your broadband Internet provider.
It's Official: AOL's customer service stinks
The Consumerist - Not only is AOL recognized as the winner in this "Hall of Shame," but these articles from the Consumerist and MSN quote our Executive Director, Michael Shames. Full Story.
Michael Shames and Dr. Phil - together on January 31st
UCAN's Executive Director appeared on the Dr. Phil show on January 31st. Learn more.
Unlike Britney Spears, Michael Shames WILL be appearing on the Dr. Phil show
Britney Spears has declined to appear on the Dr. Phil show, but recently UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames, was drafted to help Dr. Phil explain to his viewers why it is not necessary to use violence when dealing with large utilities.
The program airs on Thursday, January 31, and you can read the preview for "vigilante justice" here.
Dr. Phil's patient will be a 75-year old granny named Mona Shaw. Shaw received national notoriety and an almost cult-following after she visited a Comcast office on August 13, and smashed up the company's equipment with a hammer.
Hopefully, Michael will have the opportunity to show Mrs. Shaw how to properly complain to a large, uncaring utility with bad customer service. His organization, UCAN, specializes in resolving difficult utility complaints on behalf of its 33,000 members.
Like what you see? Go ahead and show your support! UCAN is a truly independent non-profit watchdog organization, dependent on grassroots donations like yours!
Utility Consumers' Action Network
(619) 696-6966 or file a complaint about a company online.
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