I am the broadband Bermuda Triangle

Thu, 06 Dec 2001 22:25:00 +0000

I am the broadband Bermuda Triangle. Offer me a broadband connection, and your company is doomed to fail. If I even ask about your broadband service, start reading up on how to file for bankruptcy protection. Originally, I did not believe it was my fault, but after getting kicked off five different systems in the past 10 months, there is only one obvious factor in common: me.

The U.S. government says it is working on ways to stimulate broadband growth. I have a solution: kick me out of the country. With that one, simple move, broadband will again be free to thrive and grow and help boost the rest of the sagging tech sector.

A year ago, broadband was still considered the "next big thing." I decided it was time to join the 21st century, and thus began Hurricane Mike's path of broadband destruction.

It began, simply enough, last December when I signed up for Northpoint DSL through Megapath, a popular broadband ISP. Northpoint, of course, was one of the "big three" wholesalers of DSL service (along with Rhythms and Covad).

Once my connection was up and running, it only took two weeks for Northpoint to declare bankruptcy.

Salon.com > Mike Masnick

I am the broadband Bermuda Triangle