As part of their merger with SBC and Bellsouth, AT&T is required to offer dry loop DSL (what you might call 'naked DSL' or 'toneless DSL') until some date in the future. About a year ago, I had dry loop service, and everything was great. Then I moved out of the country for a while, and just got back. When I called AT&T this time, the representative swore up and down that they no longer offered it, even when I said I was pretty sure it was required by regulators (op! this too!).
I have one friend that had dry loop, and several other friends that were also asking for it getting the same response. AT&T claims it's not offered because there is no demand. Fancy that... no demand for something they don't advertise and actively try to hide.
So finally I found the old number I called a year ago to set up my service. (Randomly stashed text files ftw!) For the midwest (11 states including Texas), that number is 1-800-264-0002. Let me make that clear, since you cannot find this number on the AT&T website.
AT&T Dry Loop DSL: 1-800-264-0002
The representative at this number assured me that they still offer dry loop, and quoted me the following prices (speeds noted as up/down):
- 512kbps/3mbps (with 6 month contract): $49.99/mo
- 256kbps/1.5mbps (with 6 month contract): $44.99/mo
- 512kbps/3mbps (without contract): $54.99/mo
- 256kbps/1.5mbps (without contract): $49.99/mo
That brings me to the only downside I see. For some reason they could not offer me 6mbps download speeds with dry loop. Now I get to ponder whether that supposed extra speed (which I rarely if ever actually see, as my speed tests seem to top out at 4.5mbps on a good day) is worth the extra $15 a month. If any of you call them up and get 6mbps offered to you, please let me know.
Another tip: In some states telcos are required to offer what is called a measured line. If you have your line mainly for the DSL (and never use the actual voice service), you can ask for a measured line. This is still voice service, but you only get about 20-25 calls a month. The upside is it only costs between $5 and $7 a month. My state (Kansas) doesn't offer measured lines, so I am stuck paying $15.70 for basic service, without a phone even plugged into the wall. If you are like me and asked for the cheapest line possible (because you don't use it), chances are they gave you a flat rate line like mine. You could probably save about $8/mo if you switched to a measured line.
3 comments:
I just called the phone # above and they will be offering a 6mbps option on 12/11/07 for $38.99.
If you want to be an early adopter of this, be ready for some pains b/c AT&T is making it miserable for me to transfer. But we need enough early adopters to tell AT&T to screw off and unbundle their services...
I live in San Francisco and had AT&T High Speed, placed the order on 12/24/07 for $23.99 dry loop service. What a joke. They screwed up my order and so didn't place it (after telling me it'd take two business days to get done). The originally scheduled downtime happened (on 12/31) but the uptime sure hasn't yet. It was planned for 1/2 but on 1/3 I checked and found out that the "order hadn't been placed". WTF?
Currently no department wants to take responsibility to get this done, even though someone there screwed up the order.
They first told me it'd take 2 business days, now they're saying 5 biz days from the date of the "fixed" order and that "Dry Loop cases don't have escalations because they are not a priority. (I'm appalled that they can say this with a regretful tone - it's condescending)
Customer service reps are sweet but ineffective - if AT&T wants to keep its techier clients they need to get with the times. This is 2008 and Silicon Valley - play nice before the Google gets in on your turf.
Coldwater, Ks 67029. currently getting ATT DSL. what a mess 32 days to get gateway -7464ft and 1.7 Mbps.
thanks for info on dry loop I'm sure this will help (after I get all the Bonus-Paybacks-$279.99)I'll try for Naked DSL.
I also hope you are employed now.
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