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I remember paying quite a bit to talk to my friend in Washington D.C. We had to time our calls because it was so expensive.
Indeed.
For much of the time during the days of the Bell System phone calls were hugely expensive compared to now. Generally it cost more to make a 3 minute call, than what someone, on average, earned for an hour's work, and all equipment used on the phone network had to be rented from Ma Bell. New customer? They require the equivalent to a week's pay, given to them up front held as a deposit for a year. No interest paid either. This on top of the installation charge.
No AT&T sucks. Verizon is just expensive. I will NEVER do business with AT&T again after standing on the side of the road with an injured child and having a 911 call dropped THREE TIMES. Fortunately, someone with Verizon came by and called an ambulance. All I got from AT&T was "That shouldn't have happened". You're darned right it shouldn't have. When I called to drop their service they had the nerve to tell me "Oh, You just need to upgrade your phone". Seriously? I've been having nothing but trouble with your service for two years and now that my contract is up your solution is a new phone and another two year contract? I will not repeat what I said to that woman on the phone.
I've always had great service and customer service from Verizon. My only complaint is the bill which is high. I guess you get what you pay for. I could save money by going to AT&T but then I'd be dealing with AT&T again and that will NEVER happen. For two years it was one phone call after another about my service. My favorite was the time I called about the fact I had to walk to the end of my driveway to get service (I live in a city that is supposed to have service) and they simply told me "We don't guarantee service inside buildings" Um, where do you think I spend most of my time? At the end of my driveway? AWFUL service and customer service. Once they sell you a plan, forget it. Verizon has always worked with me on any issues I had and I have service even in my basement.
I'm getting a new plan next weekend. I thought about going with someone else but then I thought about signing up for two years of who knows what service and thought better of it. I'll keep my $210 Verizon bill. I'd rather pay for something that works than pay less for something that doesn't. There's really no bargain there.
well...when I had att...never had a problem
have T-Mobile...love it
had sprint ...will never pay them a dime , ever again...worst service out there
tried verison...and had verison (as local land line)...very expensive...lousey land line service... and dropped calls all the time....'''can you here me now'''
the GOVERNMENT just PREVENTED the merger between att and T-Mobile....because it would make too big of a monopoly
if the GOVERNMENT is going to prevent the #1(att) and #3(tmobile) from merging, what makes you think the GOVERNMENT is going to allow #1(att) and #2(verison) to merge????????
do you really want another '''to big to fail''' company out there???
I think the government didn't put enough thought into the positives the merger could bring.
If the government lets them return to being a monopoly the government could use it to provide universal telecommunication coverage cheaply. Ma Bell wasn't so bad. It was just poorly managed and not enough supervision came from the government to keep it from acting underhanded.
Look at PG&E in California. It may be a monopoly but it acts as a benevolent Quasi-Government entity.
Isn't it enough that the MSM is controlled by the government?
Do we really need the NSA...err, "government" in charge of the CELLULAR PHONE NETWORK?
As long as it is run like a Public Monopoly like it once was it would allow us to stream-line the cell phone infrastructure, allow for varying rates to provide service to those who can't afford regular service, and give all of us shareholders nice fat dividend checks every quarter. It works for Utilities like PG&E and it worked for the original AT&T for decades.
AT&T was a strong company back in the day and provided nearly a million jobs in its prime. Why not bring it back?
If there was one regulated monopoly it could effectively reduce overall cost by reducing the number of cell phone towers needed to provide universal coverage. Also the government can assure it uses a variable cost strategy like the ones used by utilities to ensure disenfranchised people can afford cell phone service. This new AT&T Bell Network can put its profits towards dividends and further research into wireless technology.
Wrong. Aside from well water, the only option here for water and sewer service is through the city/county. Rates "temporarily" go up when in a drought and never come down. Too much rain, rates go up. Need more money for the coffers, rates increase.
If you allow a monopoly, rates will not go down. Competition keeps rates down since people are free to choose their provider, or choose not to have one at all. It doesn't matter who is in control if there is a monopoly. The rates will go up, never down, and there isn't a thing you can do about it. If your Sprint bill goes up 30%, you can go to Verizon or AT&T and say, "lower my bill and I'll use your service." Can't happen if there is only one ticket in town.
As long as it is run like a Public Monopoly like it once was it would allow us to stream-line the cell phone infrastructure, allow for varying rates to provide service to those who can't afford regular service, and give all of us shareholders nice fat dividend checks every quarter. It works for Utilities like PG&E and it worked for the original AT&T for decades.
AT&T was a strong company back in the day and provided nearly a million jobs in its prime. Why not bring it back?
I guess you don't remember paying ridiculous amounts of money for long distance.
I guess you don't remember paying ridiculous amounts of money for long distance.
I think I was blinded by the massive dividends the stock paid and how safe of an investment it was.
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I remember paying quite a bit to talk to my friend in Washington D.C. We had to time our calls because it was so expensive.
