Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 11:38:40 -0800
From: Hal Pomeranz <hal@deer-run.com>
To: baylisa@baylisa.org
Subject: [SUMMARY] T1/DSL providers
X-Mailer: Mutt 0.95.1i

A few days ago I posted to the list asking for recommendations on T1
and/or DSL networking providers in the Bay Area (particularly East Bay
where my home office is located).

Several people wrote to say that they're using Pac Bell-- generally
these folks prefaced their remarks with something on the order of
"actually they don't suck as bad as you'd think".  Two people recommended
DNAI, which has recently been acquired (along with Brainstorm) into
RCN-- it's an open question whether or not DNAI will succumb to "big
company syndrome".  I got one recommendation for each of the following:
rawbandwidth.com (formerly TSoft), LMi (LANMinds) Networks, Idiom
Consulting, Alameda Networks, and Meer.Net.

I've learned some other interesting items by calling around the various
providers:

-- Pac Bell only offers ADSL whereas the other guys (who are mostly
reselling Covad and/or Northpoint service) can offer SDSL up to 1.1Mbps,
depending on your distance from the CO.  If you're actually running
Web sites et al from your home network (as I am), then you probably 
want SDSL.  If you're only using the DSL to surf, then ADSL is 
generally cheaper.

-- Covad seems to be almost actively hostile to small ISPs these days.
The big ISPs (e.g. DNAI/RCN) can offer new customers fairly agressive
incentives from Covad (free installs, rebates, free first month service)
which Covad apparently doesn't make available to the small fry.  Small
ISPs seem to be preferring Northpoint now as their DSL provider.

For those of you who care, I ended up choosing 1.1Mbps SDSL from DNAI
(with Covad providing the DSL service).  With a two year committment
I got free install, free equipment, first month's service free and
a $150 rebate from Covad.  Hard to beat, though DNAI is soaking me for
an extra $50/month for a /27 netblock (and wants to charge a $50/domain
setup fee for providing secondary DNS service-- Granite Canyon here I
come!).

--Hal