I used to work for Comcast, doing support for their cable modem network in the metro Detroit area. I know how their network works, and exactly how underhanded they can be.

After reading this article by Cory Doctorow and this one by Charlie Stross, it’s giving me a flashback. The comments on Mr. Stross’s post note that even BT (British Telecom) is knees deep in screw-the-customer-because-we-can land.

My options, here in Lansing:

Free wireless provided by my apartment complex
Unreliable. Too small a pipe for two apartment buildings. They seem to be blocking content somehow, as Pidgin will drop certain IM networks (like gtalk over jabber), but it’ll work fine from within gmail. Currently, the only option I’m willing to use. The upstream provider? TDS Metrocom.

Comcast
Did I mention that I worked for these corrupt wanks? I want to be able to distribute legal files over P2P software, so this group is out. Not to mention the difficulties with getting Windows-based VPNs to work over their network.

Also, I’m not paying for a tech to come out and fix Comcast’s broken shit ON TOP of their ludicrous monthly rates, and taxes directly passed on to the customer as fees. All I want is a pipe to the internet, at a reasonable cost. Unless I buy their TV and phone services, I can’t get it through them. No matter what, I pay close to or over $100 a month.

Um, no.

DSL Options
As far as I know, AT&T owns all of the local lines. Any other DSL provider has to use AT&T’s equipment at least up until the CO-to-customer hop. This makes me extremely nervous. AT&T was the primary cooperator in our government’s illegal phone-and-internet tapping program. While I’m generally open and free with my information, I do not like to reward idiocy with my money.

AT&T: Your world delivered… to the NSA.

As far as I know, that’s all the options I’ve got. I don’t have the ability for satellite, as my apartment complex has strict rules about putting dishes on the roof, and I don’t have a balcony. I have no idea how far Ethernet over Power has come, though I’m pretty educated about Power over Ethernet. Heh. Arialink has said that I’m out of range of any of their wireless solutions.

Peter’s mesh network idea just keeps coming back to me as a good one. Intrinsically anarchic, but good. Lansing-wide ad-hoc network, anyone? Maybe Google will put up a network here, since San Francisco won’t let them out there.