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| Name: |
lakngulf
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 3:32:56 PM
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How many cable companies service the lake areas? I was not aware Charter was in the neighborhood. I amd in the Parker Creek marina area and have ComLink. Knock on wood, it has been very reliable for TV and for internet. Very few outages, or sluggish performance. So good I have thought about getting their version of vonage for house phone. Now that I have said this it will probably be out when I get home today!
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| Name: |
DaBurglar
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 5:48:31 PM
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as far as I know we only have Charter on the north end of the lake. I think we should rally together and get more cable companies looking our way. The charter service is fine but the prices are crazy...
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 5:50:09 PM
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The South shore of Parker Creek is much less densely populated than most other areas of LM. Not many cable customers sharing the same pipe. Your good luck, as long as Russell doesn't start developing West of you. And, I am praying that will not happen in my lifetime. I live on the other side of the creek.
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| Name: |
Swimmer27
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 5:54:25 PM
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The problem is that Charter has an exclusive contract with the county commission. The county gets a kickback on each bill in the county in exchange for letting Charter be the only provider. Which is standard for most towns/counties, but it still stinks.
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Burglar, gotta'wait
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Date:
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8/6/2008 6:11:10 PM
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for the economy to recover. Cable/telephone companies now are squeezed tight on money, just like you and me. They ain't got the money in the budget now to expand, much less maintain. But, just watch...
Major telephone companies have the technology at hand to deliver all satellite, cable, wideband, voice, internet, et.al. services using much of existing infrastructure. They know how to do it now, but they will not spend the bucks to do it, until the economy recovers and consumers are spending again.
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| Name: |
Mulligan
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 6:27:55 PM
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have you ever noticed that whenever the govt endorses monopolies (cable, garbage, phone, etc) that the service declines in direct proportion to the rise in costs? Same thing for property taxes, tripled in 5 years and zero county maintenance on my road. Can't wait til BHO nationalizes the refineries and the hospitals.
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Include Rail Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 7:02:03 PM
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in your statement. It stinks, big time, since Uncle Sam stuck his nose in.
Ever traveled in Europe? Their Rail Service puts our mass transit systems to SHAME.
Whether inter-city or local subway in large cities, they are fast, on-time, efficient, pretty cheap, safe (except for the occasional bomb), and, THEIR GOVERNMENTS are involved. But, they work well.
Go Figure!
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| Name: |
lakngulf
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/6/2008 9:54:15 PM
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Which county? If it is an exclusive contract then how can I have ComLink in coosa county and the folks across the water from me (in coosa county) have Charter? I am assuming those folks are in coosa but I am no expert on geography. I agree with Mack on hoping the Russell does not devleop (actually east of me). My lot borders the Russell land.
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Lakngulf
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Date:
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8/6/2008 11:05:03 PM
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What Swimmer is saying is that the County grants an exclusive license for a SPECIFIC cable route/land area within the county. Thus, multiple cable companies in the county. It gets really complicated, really political, and really questionable??.
My bad about East/West development. If you border Russell, look out your front door and you are looking at my front door across the creek.
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Include Rail Service
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Date:
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8/7/2008 7:48:53 AM
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In most of the U.S. we have traditionally relied on individual rather than mass transportation because we are used to having more freedoms (read that as spoiled), and lower population density. Europe has had much higher gas prices, fewer cars and far fewer boats per capita, so they have fewer choices in transportation. The EU has more socialist governments than we are currently saddled with, so they are used to that as well. As far as healthcare – do some research about the availability of services and waits for surgeries or MRI’s in Europe or Canada, and you will find out why the Government needs to stay out of the healthcare business. My mother and her family are from Germany, and I remember an uncle of hers coming here in the 1970’s and paying full boat for an operation on his leg to prevent amputation of a foot that would have been the only option at home. If you feel the that any Government will do better for you than you can yourself – come on up and live in Birmingham.
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| Name: |
greycove
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| Subject: |
Television service - my take
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Date:
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8/7/2008 10:02:26 AM
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I am in the Blue Creek area. Had Charter some years ago, but they raised the rate about as often as the sun came up. Have had Dish-TV for several years. I have the 100 channel thing plus all networks out of Montgomery, pay $37.99 a month. This was about $20 a month less than my former cable, enough to pay the phone bill. Use the cell for ALL long distance. So I feel like I am getting free phone service.
We don't watch a lot of TV at the lake, mostly news and ESPN, so the cost of cable did not seem justified. Have been very pleased with repair service response. The lost of signal during bad weather is rare and only last 30-45 minutes as the clouds pass.
Biggest gripe is that you cannot get FOXnews without having to buy a lot of channels only a prisinor in solitary confinement would want to watch.
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| Name: |
Harborcon
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| Subject: |
Television service - my take
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Date:
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8/7/2008 12:56:57 PM
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Hey there, Greycove - I too am in the Blue Creek area, and have about 7 channels from Charter (mostly network and pray-tv) for the same thing you are paying for 100 channels. What's the name of your company from Montgomery?
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| Name: |
Mulligan
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| Subject: |
Include Rail Service
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Date:
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8/7/2008 4:35:42 PM
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Yep, I travelled and worked in EU, and yep, their rail service is better. I agree with the population density discussion below, and pls understand that the way the EU can afford to subsidize rail is thru 40+% taxation on incomes plus VAT on nearly everything. AND the USofA defends most of Europe free of charge, so they have money to spend on "health care", rail, schools, etc, etc. I continue to believe that govt (local, AL and DC) should stay out of creating business monopolies.
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
My point on Rail Service was
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Date:
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8/7/2008 5:59:35 PM
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that even with substantial subsidies, our government would still screw it up. And, they did maybe 30 years ago (AMTRAK JOKE).
But, I believe, barring political interference from the Airline Lobby, that Rapid Rail service would be a blessing to the U.S. both as a cheaper/cleaner way to travel and also as a serious competitor to airlines. Ever bought a Delta ticket from BHM or MGM to ATL?? Make your hair go gray.
And, by the way, the 40+ per cent European taxes mentioned? Get a total of your Fed, Local, State and SALES taxes actually paid last year. Might surprise you.
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| Name: |
Mulligan
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| Subject: |
My point on Rail Service was
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Date:
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8/7/2008 8:01:56 PM
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Yes, did the math in UK vs USA and 40% tax was on income and applied before I paid $300 a month mandatory health insurance, and 15-30% vat on every purchase I made, plus the pleasure of buying petrol at $6.80 per gallon, and various fees and taxes on maintaining a living in England. That was in 2004.. USA is better by far, and we still provide free military protection for all the EU, and a tax free existence to millions in this country. Europe is beautiful, old, and expensive. I choose to live right here where my greatgrand father immigrated legally.
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
My point on Rail Service was
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Date:
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8/7/2008 9:38:47 PM
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Then, I guess you are gonna' vote for BHO??
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| Name: |
greycove
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| Subject: |
Reply to Harorcon
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Date:
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8/8/2008 9:59:01 AM
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You note above that my $37.99 TV service is with Dish-TV. I had Charter in the past but changed to satellite. I think repair workers come out of Columbus Georgia, but I am not sure. All my dealings with DISH are via their "800" phone number.
DISH should be in the local phone book if you have an interest.
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| Name: |
RidgeRider
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| Subject: |
got rid of cable 10 yrs ago
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Date:
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8/8/2008 2:44:31 PM
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and would never go back. I like Satellite --currently have Dir TV, but either service is good. Only reason I'd ever consider cable is if my internet with part of the bundled service. As far as rain fade, that only happens to me maybe 5 times imes a year and I've never had last more than 15-20 min. Also, there are more HD options on Direct TV than cable.
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| Name: |
BamaBob3
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| Subject: |
Cable/Internet Service
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Date:
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8/12/2008 3:07:31 PM
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I just signed up for Charter internet service (Parker Creek Area). They have a deal right now for 6 months for $14.99 a month plus $3 a month for modem rental (could but one for $49.99). I thought I would try it. I can't complain about the availability of the cable...but this is one of the worst companies on the face of the earth for customer service and price. If I can get internet service from a satellite that allows VPN passthrough I will switch next year.
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| Name: |
Jim120
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| Subject: |
got rid of cable 10 yrs ago
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Date:
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8/17/2008 11:15:17 AM
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A couple of years ago, in a desperate attempt to enforce some academic discipline at our house, I cancelled our cable TV service altogether for about six months. (Kinda got out ahead of myself there, to be honest, but when the kids called my bluff I had to do it.)
I've got to say, it was a net improvement in all our lives to be without TV for six months and I missed it a lot less than I feared -- in fact, almost never, not at all. I still look back on that period fondly. Unfortunately, it was me that broke: when the new (and final) Sopranos season was about to start up on HBO, I quietly re-subscribed. But I have to say if we were all honest with ourselves, most of us I bet would admit thay probably 75% of the TV-watching we do is more of a disease or addiction symptom than something we genuinely enjoy. Every time I surf the channels from top to bottom I am amazed at how much useless and even arguably harmful cr*p I am paying for in the name of "entertainment."
The Olympics of course is well within that 25%...sometimes I think we'd all be better off if CATV were all "pay per view."
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