New 56k/ISDN Dial-ups + Relief for connection problems...

[Robert Dinse <nanook@eskimo.com>]

     There have been quite a few people who have experienced problems with the
new Seattle 56k / ISDN POP which serves Western Washington.  StarNetInc /
MegaPOP, an outfit we contract has not been able to resolve many of these
problems in a timely manner.

     We have established a relationship with another company that allows us to
provide access via UUNET and Ziplink dialup's IN ADDITION to MegaPOP.

     This will provide an alternative for those of you who can not connect to
MegaPOP reliably or at good speed or at all.

     In addition, it greatly expands our coverage.

     In Washington State, we now have coverage in Aberdeen, Bellingham,
Bremerton, Camas, Cashmere, Centralia, Coupeville, Ferndale, Longview, Mount
Vernon, Olympia, Pullman, Silverlake, Silverdale, Spokane, Sumner, Wenatchee,
and Yakima.

     For Washington State access numbers please see:

	http://www.eskimo.com/dial/wa.html

     I haven't updated the website for other states, it's going to be a big
task.  The numbers in green are UUNET dialups, Yellow MegaPOP, Red our old v.34
pool, and Blue Ziplink.  No Ziplink in Washington State.

     All new users will be added into the new system giving access to all of
the numbers and gradually we will move existing users over to the new system as
well.

     When you connect, you will need to change your username from 508600xxxx or
508600xxxx@isdn to 508600xxxx@usb.com.  The '@usb.com' specifies a Radius Realm
that provides authentication.  So if your 508600xxxx username stops
authenticating, try adding @usb.com.

     We will be moving users with MegaPOP problems first, those that can't
connect at all first, then those with poor speed connections, cutoffs, etc.
If you have these problems please e-mail support@eskimo.com.

     Right now Eric and I are the only ones that know how to use the new
interface, but we'll get Chris up to speed tomorrow and Kathryn on Friday.

     The people who are having problems we will try to get moved in as close to
real-time as possible, others will be done in batches near the end of the
month so that we don't have to pay for overlapping accounts more than necessary
to address service issues.

     Again, if your 508600XXXX username stops working, please try
508600XXXX@usb.com, and at the point that works, ANY of the MegaPOP, UUNET, or
Ziplink dial-up numbers will be available to you.