This article is full of hyperbole
This is scary. If ISPs are actively trying to block the use of encryption, it shows how they might seek to block the use of VPNs and other important security protection measures, leaving all of us less safe.
This article and the write up are misrepresenting what's happening. You're trying to talk to an SMTP server, not the whole Internet. For some reason the SMTP server isn't supporting STARTTLS which is dumb, stupid and down right naive. They don't mention which broadband carrier but it would be nice to know so we could all do a Nelson and go "ha! ha!" The simple answer is allow them to fix their problem or just use another SMTP service that respects your transmission privacy preferences to all services they provide to you. They're not responsible for providing security to other services not under their control.
Since this is a wireless carrier you do have some protections regarding the network encryption already supporting your connection back to them. I won't get into CAVE or GSM security and any flaws but this is just a stupid ISP with one service not accepting TLS. What happens if you say try that at a GMAIL or YAHOO server instead on the same network? I don't see that scenario played out in the article. I for one know what happens there, it would have just been nice if these guys would have done a bit more investigation.