Sprint discontinuing Broadband Direct
Learn
"Why
Sprint is discontinuing their
Broadband Direct service?"
GREAT PACKAGES - GREAT SERVICE - GREAT PRICES
Introducing WildBlue.
Satellite Speed Internet for rural
America.
Imagine getting Internet access via satellite that's
up to 30 times faster than dial-up, for only $49.95. learn
more...
 |
Introducing HughesNet.
You'll enjoy faster surfing, faster
downloads and instant email access with HughesNet – all without
tying up your phone line. |
What's the scoop?...
Sprint's telling their customers that as of July 31 (possibly sooner depending on the market) that it will be discontinuing their broadband Direct service due to the result of a recent FCC action and spectrum policy decision.
Emails Read:
"As
the result of a recent FCC action,
Sprint will no longer have access to
the spectrum used to operate our
Sprint Broadband Direct Service in
your area. Due to this FCC mandate,
Sprint will discontinue your service
by 6/30/2008. This discontinuance of
service will also affect your
EarthLink email account. Please
contact EarthLink directly if you
choose to continue with their
service."
Broadband Direct service, offered to
only a select few cities, required
customers to mount a 14-inch
diamond-shaped antenna on their
roof, allowing them to receive a
ADSL-class service.
Now with Sprints BB Direct
termination, they are emailing the
remaining line-of-sight-based
wireless broadband users that
they can change out "BB Direct"
service to
EV-DO.
This "plan" has been looked at as an
inconvenience and hassle. Many
customers feeling that the BB Direct
service has served as a bit of a
bait and switch maneuver, since the
product Sprint has offered in its
place (EV-DO) has a pretty hefty
increase in price.
Customers are also up in arms regarding the lack of support/service provided to BB Direct customers with taking down equipment from roofs and disposal efforts. It has been mentioned by customers that Sprint has been saying "We do not have the man power for this type of cleanup."
Additional quotes
from an article about Sprint located
at Bloomberg.com state:
"lost more than a million customers
last quarter, said it may sell some
assets after its net loss swelled to
$505 million...."
"...Chief Executive Officer Dan
Hesse, 54, is firing 4,000 workers,
closing outlets and discounting
wireless phone plans after the stock
lost more than half its value in the
past year. Sprint had a $29.2
billion loss in the fourth quarter"
"He also plans to close about 125 of
Sprint's company-owned stores"
Full Sprint Broadband Direct discussion forum
