Both designers and users share the burden to act ethically with technology. Engineers (or any designer) selects materials, tools, methods, goals, etc. and all these may involve moral/ethical choices. A blade may be designed for more accurate surgery or to inflict more pain when thrust through human flesh. Don't let the engineer off the hook. Users also bear the burden of selecting which technology to use and then how to use it. A MacBook (or insert your favorite gadget here) may be a well designed product but I'm sure I can find a way to kill someone with it.

How come we don't see car companies produce knock-offs of each other's products? It happens in software and massive numbers of other consumer products. What prevents Chevy from copying the Ford F-150? Certainly they take each other's ideas, but you don't see wholesale copying.

Others have mentioned The Hobbit and Narnia. We listened to Narnia on audiobook and my 7 year old eats them up. I just started the Hobbit and he's hooked half-way through chapter 1. Another idea is graphic novels. We got a few young reader books like Billy Blaster and Recon Academy (sort-of sci fi) which he can read along with. I discovered Missle Mouse which I had to read at first, but after a few readings he likes to look at for himself.

You're right, I made the choice to move out here for a job and you're right that access is one consideration about where to live. I can't help it much if I was somewhat misinformed about said access before purchasing the house. I don't think the world owes me Internet at all - it being so slow makes me get more reading done than watching something on Netflix. However, it is a service I pay for and expect something close to what I pay for. My question is about how to deal with the ISP.

I have not contacted them and I'm not assuming they're just messing with me. I'm mainly looking for advice on how to reliably show them my service drop is real. But good point - if I had a dollar for every time I've said to someone in the office "have you called IT yet?"...well, I'd have a T1 and forget this.

Sounds viable to me - surely someone will actually do this!

Fair enough - I realize rural broadband is a money losing proposition. It is indeed Frontier out where I am, but being a money drain doesn't exactly encourage them to invest in it.

That's one of the most useful and informative comments I've seen on Slashdot. I wish I could give you mod points. This is exactly why I asked this community. I suspect you're right that we're just so overloaded in our area there's little to be done. I took a rural job and a rural house and I realize this is the reality. Knowing what to ask helps - thank you.

Thanks - this is helpful. I'll dig around in the modem's web server pages to see what I can get to. Any suggestions for a DSL speed test program?

Thanks for this - learning about how the thing works really helps.

Yup, I don't care about the difference between 2.7 and 3. Feh. It's the order of magnitude difference that is a problem.

Howdy neighbor! We have a different provider, but yes, rural. General apathy in the area is something of a barrier, but that is an idea.

Cell would be an option if I got cell signal. I can barely make a call in the summer, but it's a little better in winter when the leaves are down. Not likely sufficient for netflix.