Okay, I have to complain...

I currently live in an apartment complex that has a T1 line. For $20/mo I get T1 access. For $5/mo I get static IP! For $12/mo I get primary and secondary DNS services.

Count that up. I pay $37/mo for T1 access!!!

Now I'm moving into a townhome with my new wife. No T1. I doubt we are eligible for DSL or ISDN, so I'm looking at TimeWarner's RoadRunner Cable MODEM. Note: It is half the speed of my previous T1 access.

Base service is $40/mo. That includes a number of DHCP addresses.

I want static IP, so they say that will be an extra $40/mo for business class (which includes one DHCP address) and $50/mo for each static IP. DNS services are $60 for each update.

Well, I don' need DNS. But they want me to pay $130 for half the service I got at $37. They want me to pay $90 more than Joe DHCP Average.

I ask why.

Static IP addresses are expensive.

No ****, WaKul gave me one for $5!

Well, why the $40 upgrade to business class?

Increased band usage.

I'm not going to host a Quake (or UT) server! I'm just going to access my machine remotely. Serve web pages, and run a mail server. That's it. I'm not going to generate anymore traffic then your Napster junkie. What makes this worse, they don't monitor usage! They don't care who uses how much! But they want to charge me an extra $40/mo because they think I'll generate "business class" traffic!

Did I fail to mention that TimeWarner is the only cable company around? That's it, there is no competition. You want cable, you go here. DSL and ISDN don't have the reach to compete, besides, they are half again as slow!

Anyway, while I'm ranting. If anyone out there knows anyone who works for TimeWarner or RoadRunner, I want to have some honest answers.

I'm sorry, but the only thing I can think of is: they are a local monopoly, screwing over the AOL minded public with a big Louisville Slugger up the ass!