I use Windstream communications for my home internet connection because I have no choice. (thanks sudo-capitalism) The company has terrible customer service, shoddy tech support, and an obvious lack of growth planning by upper management (if there is anyone up there). Frankly it is the epitome of how not to go from a regional service industry to a nationwide service industry. So, full disclosure: I’ve never been very happy with this company. There internet service is terrible, there are often times when the internet will not work at all. Other times their service is so poor that my work is put to a complete halt. The complaints are endless. The lack of competition in the area only means it won’t be getting better any time soon.
This year as my anti-capitalist rhetoric begins to hit full throttle while shops adorn for Christmas just after Halloween, I bring myself back to the not so capitalist windstream (after the grant money they received last year they’re on the socialist edge) One of the big issues I have had with windstream is it’s ‘search assist’ which is on by default. (Here is my rant last year). The big update for this year is: Georgia Code 16-9-152, specifically Section (A) Subsection (1) Paragraph (B) reads:
(A)It shall be illegal for a person or entity that is not an authorized user, as defined in Code Section 16-9-151, of a computer in this state to knowingly, willfully, or with conscious indifference or disregard cause computer software to be copied onto such computer and use the software to do any of the following:(1) Modify, through intentionally deceptive means, any of the following settings related to the computer’s access to, or use of, the Internet: (B) The default provider or web proxy the authorized user uses to access or search the Internet
So is windstream’s use of a ‘search assist’ third-party provider going to land them in Georgia court? I doubt it, but, maybe.
/rant
Following thought: I wonder how much it would cost to establish a privately owned wireless broadband membership corporation