Hi Jerzigal,
I remember the days when the gov't busted up the MaBell (T). Something about a monopoly. You had to buy or rent your phone from them, use their service and rely on them to support everything from the telephone poles to the jack in your house. Nationwide with some support from regionals; PacBell, SoCal Edison etc.
You take the good with the bad. Long ago we had one telephone in the hallway. A Party Line we shared with others.
Today you may have one device with you at all times that serves as a computer, telephone, movie projector, AAA map, directory, order flowers or a hit man and a means to reset your air-conditioning in your home. $50-100 a month-ish. Most of the time they work.
I have no complaints at all. The technology is great and sometimes the customer service help desk isn't. Though, some of the bull crap cust. service professionals have to put up with from their customers is enough to send them to psychological counseling. I respect them.
