Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Josh2600hz 5102 days ago
How do you deliver DSL without a phone line in the US?

Even AT&T delivers a phone line on their "direct DSL", they just hide the costs of regulation in the rate.

This, to me, isn't a case where sonic is to blame. This has more to do with restrictive FCC requirements than it does with Dane.

Phones are due for a regulatory rework.
2 comments
function_seven 5102 days ago
DSL and dial-tone are completely separate services, that only share a copper line. Verizon doesn't require you to purchase dial-tone in order to get DSL. The only reason I can think of for AT&T to do so is to prop up their telephone business.
link
rogerbinns 5102 days ago
AT&T will also sell me naked or dry DSL as it is called. It is sonic that insists on bundling "free" phone service and then charging for it through additional surcharges and fees.
link
gcb 5102 days ago
You are wrong. After getting a special number ( 1-800-288-2020) i was able to order dsl from att without a landline contract and phone taxes from California. Nothing.

Catch is, the advertised price of $25/mo for 6mbps only last one year, and you have to sign up for two years, paying $55/mo on the second.

Still beats paying $40 all around for the crappy cable latency i get here (at One block from the att repeater building!)

link
Josh2600hz 5098 days ago
Look, the 2882020 # is not special... That's the main AT&T customer service number.

You're wrong. If you call AT&T, inside of their systems, they can only group dsl orders based on phone numbers. So even if they tell you you're not getting dial tone, in their system, you are getting dial tone.

This has to do with very interesting regulations from the FCC which I don't care to dive into now.

The special rate you got is the same rate you'd get by walking into an AT&T store...

link
noselasd 5102 days ago
So in both cases you pay $960 for 2 years, except in one case you don't get a phone line.
link
eru 5102 days ago
My math comes out differently.
link
gcb 5100 days ago
your math is off. And i don't get a phone in either cases.

one option is ADSL without a phone line taxes.

other option is cable. also, without a phone for obvious reasons

link