CNSP Could not provide even landline speeds. They were informed of our requirements. santa fe, New Mexico

I live in a rural area and caught an advertisement from CNSP about wireless high speed internet service.  I emailed requirements and spoke at the office with them.  There are  two times a week that were crucial to teach online university courses for 3 hours.

The minimum speed required was actually quite slow at 1 meg.  This would run all the video & audio needed with the university's program.  I contracted for 3.5 or 3.6.  I do not remember which.

For the first few months service was reliable.  The speed is constantly monitored and although it was never 3.5 it usually stayed above 2 which was plenty.  Then the problems started.

To explain the extreme hardships of unreliable service you need to understand this;

The course contract calls for 20 students.  When a class is cancelled for any reason it is the instructor's responsibility to provide make-up classes for EACH student.  So for every hour that we are unable to have class results in 20 hours of make-up.  This is UNPAID time.  The university pays for the contracted hours and no more.

Soon the service started to become slow.  I bookmarked speed tests.  I emailed and begged CNSP to provide service during the 2 critical times.  They would only say that they show good speed and connections to/from my antennae and that I needed to recycle their equipment.  recycling did not good and when they check the system at 2 in the afternoon it does not compare to 6 in the evening.

This went on and on.  I offered to pay for higher speeds if that would get them to prioritize our antennae those 2 times a week, they did not reply.  There were around 80 make-up classes due to CNSP's inability to provide service.  It would constantly be slower than a dial up connection.

They claimed a virus.  I would religiously run anti-virus before each set of classes.  None detected and odd that they would only be active during the evening "rush hours".  They rest of the week when speed was not an issue it did not matter if the net was down for a few minutes or an hour due to CNSP's poor service.  Emails and youtube could wait until rush hour was over.

After 30 or so emails, uncounted phone messages, 90% not responded to, I took service with another company.  CNSP was cheaper and I liked the idea of wireless.  I did not care who provided internet, only that it was provided and at least 1 meg those 3 hours twice a week.

I let CNSP know that I had another provider and that I would keep them as a standby for a highly discounted rate.  They can pull up immediately the usage from my antennae so cheating them would not be possible.  There was no response or counter offer.

I turned in the equipment that belonged to CNSP.  They gave me a receipt for the equipment and said nothing.  Now miracle of miracles when I arrived home they had sent me a bill and notice that I owed them for the contract period.  After ignoring most emails their keyboard actually worked when it came to screwing a customer that really wanted and tried to keep their service.

I am a disabled vet and do poorly during the winter time.  Now that summer is here a few of the veteran organizations have offered their assistance and I can honestly say that I have kept 5 people from taking CNSP's service so far.  I have no idea how many have read other postings and billboard notices at veterans meeting places and decided against CNSP.

It is sad because they did not need to send these bills.  The excuse that they do not guarantee speeds and it is my equipment at fault is just a lie to cheat people.  Funny how I have never, not once lost classes with the new provider, not once.  They knew up front what the requirements were and could have just been honest and said they cannot provide it.

It is even sadder because rural areas need dependable internet and if you need more than email and you tube CNSP cannot provide it. I hope they did not get the government funding to provide rural service but ripping off is what they seem to be good at.  Who cares if it is customers or the government.