With the changes to AT&T’s privacy policy, which basically says, your data is our data, is it finally time for me to change to cable modem service?
Why haven’t I changed to this point? I mean, cable modem service is faster.
a) When I had cable TV, it was horrible. Full of ghosts. I’m worried that this is how my data would show up. Full of errors.
b) The cost. DSL is far cheaper, and since I have satellite, I would have to pay an extra $15 to Comcast.
c) inertia. I’d have to change my setup. However, since I changed my setup slightly anyway to use the DSL modem to login to the service and act as a DHCP server, it’s not that big a change.
Plus, with my DSL service, I’ve always had problems with frequent disconnects, where the DSL modem disconnects and has to reconnect. I’m hoping this won’t happen with cable.
So, what are my plans? Right now, my plan is, since my contract with AT&T ends in early August, to get Comcast to install in Mid-July. Since there’s no contract required, I can always drop the service if I want. And that’s what I’ve decided to do. For sure this year (since I planned to switch two years ago and didn’t). More on this later.
June 26, 2006 at 6:33 am
It seems the new privacy policy sets them up for a number of other services as well. Under this privacy policy they can provide your cellular number to directory assistance, calling records to the government (or worse marketing companies), share what websites you are visiting, etc.
This type of information should be personal to me and a company like AT&T should have to ask me every time they want to release it. I understand that the revenues associated with this information are potentially large (the Pierz Group has estimated that adding wireless numbers to directory assistance is worth approximately $3B / yr to the US wireless industry – Cingular represents about 40% of that industry). We are talking about big $$ and the motivation to trample on a little privacy is high.
A simple way of solving this problem is to require companies to ask you before releasing your information. They have a path to you – e-mail or cellphone. Why would this be a burden?