VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

ISDN just went up another $75 a month. Now paying around $375/mo. Apparently this is now a yearly thing with them. This sucks.
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Ouch! That's painful!
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Colin Day - UK Voiceover
www.thurstonday.co.uk

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

And they don't even kiss you when they raise the rate!

btw, love your website Joe.

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

thanks Eddie!
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

Glenn Moore · Been Here Awhile Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 241

I totally agree, Joe.....they are very very evil. I see them out with their little work trucks and hard hats almost every day in my neighborhood. And I can't help but wonder if they are creeping my ISDN lines with wire cutters in hand. Makes me glad Source Connect is here as a back up...and eventually the norm.

Glenn

Bish · Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:25 pm Post subject:

That's a tough one Joe. I keep hearing horror stories from AT&T customers... luckily, I hear none from Verizon (unless I missed them... please tell). My ISDN is around $60 per month, and I was gratified to hear from the Verizon tech that there are quite a few installations out where I am on Long Island... evidently lots of NY radio people are NOT sitting in downtown studios... who'd a'thunk it? Maybe I'm safe because it's Verizon and there's a certain safety in numbers when talking about the NY Metro area.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

melissa eX · Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:38 pm Post subject:

Someone posted here a while back that this was extremely unfriendly to small business and that might be an avenue to explore. Maybe you guys can do that with your congresspeople or some congressional committee that deals with small business development. I'm sure there is one. Maybe even the SBA can help?

Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:56 am Post subject:

I think I'd be in touch with your state's Attorney General's office and Utilities Commission and and see if there isn't something "unfair" about your rates being five times higher than the rest of the country. I'm guessing they've had no new expenses worthy of such a hike.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

I have my lines through EDNet, who mentioned in a letter they are doing all they can to get ATT to back down, but the same thing was said last year, so I'm not holding much hope. They said they themselves have about 30 lines through ATT so its hitting them hard as well. If it wasn't for the 2 sec delay, I'd already be bridging for everything. I might ride it out this year but if they hike again next year, I'm likely to explore other options. The problem with bridging is some months I might save a nickel or two, but other months I'd be paying a lot more than I am now, for a less-efficient system.

Sounds like its a really good time to be a Verizon or MCI customer.
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:06 am Post subject:

You might get in touch with Dave Immer at digifon.com to see if he's heard of any progress in fighting this. However his blog post from December gives only a glimmer of hope amongst the not helpful circumstances.

http://digifon.com/Blog029.html

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

Thanks for that link, Bruce.

Regarding the PUC, EDNet says that AT&T has every right to hike the price, as long as they inform the PUC what the rate will be.
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject:

That doesn't make it "right" though. They just know that those who still use ISDN REALLY need it. No "casual" user would keep the service. Totally lame.

ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject:

Yeah, been thru the wringer on this too. I got some measure of response by taking to Twitter and tweeting loudly with hashtags like #pricegouging and stuff like that, @ATT @FTC @FCC and so on. Ended up getting a call from someone in the "office of the President" (yeah right) to whom I voiced my, um, concerns. This month's bill went from $248 to $142 but I am not holding out hope that it's gonna stay that way - at least I have someone's direct # at AT&T. Check Bobbin Beam's blog for more on this. There's gotta be SOMEthing we can do...
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Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

That's great to hear you've had some success, Chris. There's power in those hash tags!

Bobbin's blog was interesting. Link for those that want to read it. I know I'm not alone on this, but it certainly feels like a David vs Goliath situation.
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

JackB · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:22 pm Post subject:

Isn't it true that sports venues use ISDN alot? Are these rates consistent with users proximity to such places? Are there other institutions which use ISDN alot?
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- Jack