56k Dial Access - Important Info and Special Offer...

[Robert Dinse <nanook@eskimo.com>]

				>> SPECIAL OFFER <<
		>> IF YOU PRESENTLY HAVE A V.34 DIALUP SUBSCRIPTION <<

     Through the end of June only (payments must be post-marked by June 30th),
if you presently have a V.34 dial-up subscription and purchase a one-year or
two-year 56k dial-up subscription, the time remaining on your V.34 account will
be upgraded to 56k for free.

     I am making this special offer because in downsizing the V.34 pool I fear
I've taken a few too many lines out given current usage patterns.

			>> IF YOU ALREADY HAVE 56K SERVICE <<

     US West has finally worked disconnects that have been ordered on the V.34
access numbers.  The disconnects bring the modem-to-user ratio to 10:1, >IF<
everybody paying for 56k access were actually using the 56k access numbers. 

     Some of the people I've contacted were using the V.34 numbers because they
had planned to get a 56k modem but still have a V.34 (or slower) modem.  You
CAN use the 56k access line with a V.34 or even 19.2k, or even slower modem. 
What's more you will get better connect speeds even with v.34 modems because of
the digital termination of the 56k lines. 

     If you are paying for 56k, please use the 56k numbers even if you only
have a V.34 modem still.  This will help us provide better service for
everybody. 

     The problems with the new Seattle POP are largely resolved.  We still have
some issues with ISDN, there is still a problem with Vashon being able to reach
it, and we've got a few users served out of the Eastlake central office that
are getting poor connect speeds, but for the vast majority it is now working
properly. 

     Those of you with ISDN in Seattle, please try 299-0155 and let me know if
it is working for you.  Please let me know what type of TA or ISDN router you
are using (whether it is working or not).  There may be an equipment
compatibility issue and we need to determine if this is the case. 

     We are not disconnecting the old number anytime soon.  This means you now
have a redundant way to get to the net in Seattle without using the V.34 access
line. 

     If you have 56k service and use the Seattle access number, please try the
new number, (206) 299-0155.  If it works as well as the old, (206) 812-1399,
please use the new number.  I would suggest making dial-up networking entries
for both so you can readily switch from one to the other in the event of a
failure. 

     These two numbers are in seperate physical POP's using different telephone
companies (one is using ELI, the other Pac West Telecom), with different
backbone providers, and thus are essentially independent, failure at one
location is unlikely to affect the other, the one exception is a radius server
failure can still break both locations.