What’s New.

As a long time loyal client/friend of HI I’ve been receiving a limp-a-long DSL at speed much less than actual “DSL” speed yet some above dial-up speed for full DSL cost. That always seemed unfair though obviously my choice.

It’s be nice to imagine an improvement with transition to a larger organization. Any possibility as would like to remain “local”.

Thanks

By Alan Laurent on May 7, 2009

Hello;
The first change I noticed was the choices of
NewsGroups being reduced dramatically. Like from
109K to 31K. I e-mailed “Support” to asked what happened to my NG. alt.politics.obama ,and was
told it would be returned ,all I had to do was ask.
Is this censorship? I noticed the Rush Limbaugh
group didn’t get dinged at all.
What I would like to know is ? What’s up?
Anyway I’m looking for a new ISP. Something is
going on and I’m not so sure I want to support it.
BTW, I’ve been with Humboldt1 for 12 years.
Peace Out, g.

By george kirkpatrick on Jun 8, 2009

Welcome to the staff at Sonic .net I am a farely new customer to this internet. And so far I’m enjoying the people that have helped me yo log on. If you want to e-mail me back with a responce I would like to hear from you ok. Sincerely, Nancy Reyes

By Nancy Reyes on Jun 12, 2009

yeah.
I’m dropping your ISP service as of the 30th June.
bye, bye.
I want to use a local service.

By george on Jun 19, 2009

Hi George,

I’m very sorry to hear we’ll be losing you. Sonic.net is an ISP still local to Northern California, and we have worked with Humboldt Internet on a regular basis over the course of the past few years. (Using our DSL network is how Humboldt brought DSL to customers in Arcata.)

I hope that you’ll at least try giving our Support department a call between now and the thirtieth. Granted, we’re not in Humboldt, but geographically I think we’re pretty close, and our service reflects it.

Best,

Adam

By adam on Jun 19, 2009

Hi again George,

We’re happy to start populating any newsgroup, and all it takes is one customer to ask. Because we’ll fulfill any of these requests without bias, we’d like to believe that we’re not practicing a form of censorship. If you have a list of newsgroups you’d like access to between now and when you leave, please feel free to email it in to support@sonic.net, and we should be able to complete the request quickly. Additionally, if you look at the groups we currently have within the alt.politics section, I believe you’ll find a wide variety of ideologies represented.

I hope this addresses your concerns!

-Adam

By srtech on Jun 19, 2009

With Humboldt Internet gone, I don’t know that there are any more local Internet providers. Most of the old ones are no longer around.

Local does not necessarily mean better and I can think of a number of businesses that provide terrible services or products, just because they know many people will accept mediocrity just to shop local.

If Sonic.net is as good as Humboldt Internet has been, I will be a happy customer.

By Andrew on Jun 25, 2009

I too am dropping my Humboldt Internet service, effective July 31.

I signed up with Pam and Adam 12 years ago: I knew them, liked them, and supported them. I was very sorry to hear they had dropped us (although with good reason), and waited to see what Sonic would do. I have been underwhelmed.

First, I had trusted Humboldt Internet with my credit info, and to find it had been passed on to people I don’t know and with whom I had no contract bothered me. Then I was billed (had my account debited) twice in two weeks with no permissions and no explanations. This is not a smart or friendly way of doing business.

Finally, a local (Humboldt County) non-profit for which I volunteer had a site donated by Humboldt Internet, but as of last week, we’re just another mark for Sonic. So much for “local community spirit.

In short, from my perspective, Sonic is no different from Enron, Maxxam or Exxon, except in scale. I’m not interested in supporting Corporate America, so you can stop debeting my account.

Walt Frazer

By Walt Frazer on Jul 4, 2009

We have been with Sonic for lots of years now and have had numerous problems that they have helped us with. We have stayed with them just for their “VERY REAL” people that answer the phone when we need help! It is hard to find that these days and frankly I don’t know how they manage to keep it up! What that says to me is that each person is important to them…I like that! Isn’t local also about knowing the people you do business with? If you want to know who Sonic is call their support and talk to a real person!
And have a little patience… any change has glitches in it… Unless you are asking them for something illegal, my experience is that they will bend over backwards to help you out! Give them a little time to work the bugs out and I believe you will be as happy as we have been all these years. By the way, we moved from Santa Rosa to Humboldt County a few years ago and never missed beat. Even when we had trouble getting set up (on our side), their support helped us with things that they weren’t even responsible for, like how to set up our email software, and plug in modems… They are my heroes!!!
Give them a chance… I think you will like them! They still stand for “small local” in a big fish world.

By Georgia on Jul 22, 2009

I have to say that I have been very frustrated with what was supposed to be a seamless transition. We’ve had numerous issues with our webpage – some of my own doing, but some of it was lack of communication on Sonic’s part.

HOWEVER – after spending time on the phone with Andy and perhaps someone else another time, the bugs are getting worked out. I am EXTREMELY IMPRESSESD with the people who work for Sonic.net. Hopefully, once the bugs are worked out, I won’t even notice that anything has changed.

I want to thank the people I’ve talked to on the phone who have been patient, helpful, and listening when I’m frustrated – I know it wasn’t their fault things didn’t go as smoothly.

By Lisa Klar on Jul 27, 2009

How do I check my spam and virus mail-the login is not available? I get a “webpage cannot be found” message.
Also, a few folks that I regularly correspond with on work projects have had their e-mail messages to me tagged as spam and I was not able to retrieve them. Are there any general rules to avoid this? I could put their e-mail addresses onto the approved list-if I could get to the list.
I hope you get these bugs worked out soon.

By Sue on Jul 30, 2009

As of TH/7/30/2009 I can no longer access my spam filter .”The docment you requested could not be found. It has probably been moved or renamed.” A former Humboldt Internet now on sonic.net user.

By ohman on Jul 30, 2009

I apologize for the inconvenience. The link to check your Postini Spam/Virus Mailbox should be back on the Humboldt1 website. The direct link is http://www.humboldt1.com/old-site/checkspam

Regards,

Adam E .

By srtech on Jul 30, 2009

i have had sonic for 4 years now in humboldt.. eureka. they have excellent service and r very good ppl so yall need to stop trippin n be happy cause humboldt internet was pooopy im pretty sure

By rob on Jul 31, 2009

Oh Sonic. Don’t worry about the anti coporate rants from these freaks up here. Your service has been great and Andy was a PLEASURE TO Talk to! Uh? “Find a local internet provider”…..where? guess you have really no idea how the telecom industry works. It’s ok. All corporations are very different. In fact, isnt the City of Arcata a corporation? Hmmmm……………Anyway, Thanks again Sonic. Best of Luck, and many Capitalist Dittos!

By James on Aug 31, 2009