dg2
Premium
join:2004-01-22
Lowell, AR
 ·Cox HSI
| Article on MAC's new chief
Through the course of discussions the past few days, someone (you know who you are, and thanks!) was kind enough to provide me with this link to an article on Janet Barnard, who took over the reigns of Middle America Cox in January.
The article is a very interesting read for anyone, but I especially recommend it for M.A.C. subscribers. Among my favorite parts:
"In January, she was tapped to run Cox's largest division, cable systems serving 800,000 subscribers in seven states, including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Yet the properties are Cox's least impressive systems."
"'My goal is to turn [Mid-America] into the kind of growth operation that the rest of Cox is,' she says, noting that 18,000 new homes—the best source of growth for any cable operator—were built in the Mid-America division's towns last year. Cox garnered 1,000 of those; the rest went to DBS."
"She is reorienting how the systems are managed. Since buying TCA in 1999, management has been driven by engineering, not business needs."
The article may be found here: »www.broadcastingcable.com/index.···CA409701
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Rdax
Premium
join:2001-05-18
El Dorado, AR | Strange, I missed that one completely. Thanks for the info.
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"Hang 'em first, try 'em later" Judge Roy Bean. |
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ahperry
join:2003-11-14
Fayetteville, AR | reply to dg2
I dropped an email to Janet. Let's see if she has anything concrete to offer on any speed upgrades or anything...
I doubt it, but it was worth a shot. |
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salterbomb
join:2003-10-18
Conroe, TX | lol
janet isn't going to tell you jack squat. |
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Rdax
Premium
join:2001-05-18
El Dorado, AR
| reply to ahperry
I think everything about increases for MAC areas has been said. They can't say anything official.  But maybe look for something later in the year.
The fact that 18000 new homes were built and Cox only got 1000 of those is not good. People are finding ways to get around the MAC monopolies. I just upgraded to the cable TV second tier just above basic for $45 a month for 75 channels with no premiums and I still don't have digital.
With Cox-express costing me 39.95$ a month and cable TV at 45$ I can already save money by getting direct tv or rca dbs even having to pay the fee for no bundling.
If it wasn't for the fact that I play games and satellite internet is not kind to those, I might be changing both already. Only time will tell, depending on what Cox-internet does in the next few months.
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"Hang 'em first, try 'em later" Judge Roy Bean. |
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ahperry
join:2003-11-14
Fayetteville, AR
| reply to salterbomb
We'll see... I already got a response from her telling me that it would take a little time to put together her response, and to expect a response from her Thursday.
I will post whatever I find out (unless of course, she asks me to keep it to myself, which I doubt she would). |
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Regulator207
join:2004-08-08
Springdale, AR | That's great, please post the response if allowed. |
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salterbomb
join:2003-10-18
Conroe, TX
| reply to ahperry
said by ahperry  :
We'll see... I already got a response from her telling me that it would take a little time to put together her response, and to expect a response from her Thursday.
I will post whatever I find out (unless of course, she asks me to keep it to myself, which I doubt she would).
i already know what that means. all she is doing is getting the facts and figures right to let you down softly while still giving you the smallest glimmer of hope. you know, one of those "in order to understand why it's taking so long you have to realize that blah blah blah **numbers** and yadda yadda yadda, we are working on it without a timetable to offer customers. be patient". |
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dg2
Premium
join:2004-01-22
Lowell, AR
·Cox HSI
| said by salterbomb :
"in order to understand why it's taking so long you have to realize that blah blah blah **numbers** and yadda yadda yadda, we are working on it without a timetable to offer customers. be patient".
Let's hope it's not another one of those empty-phrase messages, but something with at least a little meat on it. We can get "without a timetable" from any of the Cox folks here, or on the phone.
Honestly, I believe it would be in Cox's best interest to be honest about why it has taken five years to do anything (and that would be if they flipped the switch today), and to offer a realistic timetable as to when we can expect something, with some dates on it. I honestly believe that someone at M.A.C. (maybe her predecessor) decided that it was not important, and let it go way too long. It is possible that now they're trying to catch up for that error in judgement. There's nothing wrong with admitting that to your customers and apologizing, and it would help their reputation tremendously.
If they think they can get it done by September, but want some wiggle room, why not announce October, and let everyone be happy when it's finished "ahead of schedule?"
I understand Cox's policy is not to announce upgrades before they are finished, but think this situation deserves to be an exception to that policy -- only because so many vague, empty promises have been made and appear to have been broken, and because the upgrades are 3 years overdue.
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On August 9, 2004 Cox Communications upgraded 3000/256 areas to 4500/500. "Middle America Cox" is still running at 1024/128, for the same fee as the faster areas. Cox officials refuse to announce intentions to upgrade, saying only "we're working on it." |
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Regulator207
join:2004-08-08
Springdale, AR | well said dg2 |
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atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium
join:2004-02-14
Lake Charles, LA
clubs: 
| reply to dg2
In my opinion, the best way for Cox to address this issue is to one, make it known what there plans are to bring us up to spec with the other markets, and two, the adjustment of pricing.
As I have stated repeatedly, they could change the pricing for the subscribers at any time that they like. There isn o technical reason as to why the pricing plans cannot change.
As far as offering speed to customers, well, I do believe that portions of their network can handle the speed, but that they have been using the increased speed as a positive point in getting businesses to bite and subscribe to Cox Business Services. I am eager to know if the price variances exist for commercial customers, and not just residential customers.
I think this lady, whomever she is, needs to let us all know what her plans are, and as soon as possible. I am sure the MAC users would be open to some kind of dialogue. |
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salterbomb
join:2003-10-18
Conroe, TX | in my town they don't offer business class services as far as i know. |
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atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium
join:2004-02-14
Lake Charles, LA
clubs: | Have to call the Tyler office and ask about it. |
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salterbomb
join:2003-10-18
Conroe, TX
1 edit | i talked to them about it and they said it was done by local offices only. i checked cox.com and looked into it and it said that huntsville does not offer business services at all.
»www.coxbusiness.com/systems/east_texas/
it says conroe which is just south of me. |
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ahperry
join:2003-11-14
Fayetteville, AR | reply to dg2
Still waiting patiently on her reply... Just wanted to let you all know I hadn't forgotten about you. |
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Regulator207
join:2004-08-08
Springdale, AR | any update? |
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Regulator207
join:2004-08-08
Springdale, AR | apparently not. |
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ahperry
join:2003-11-14
Fayetteville, AR | reply to dg2
Nope, no message today. I'll write back tomorrow and give a gentle reminder to her. I figure she's probably got a few things on her plate right now, so I'm not too worried that she did not get back to me today... |
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BillRoland
Premium
join:2001-01-21
Ocala, FL
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| said by ahperry :
Nope, no message today. I'll write back tomorrow and give a gentle reminder to her. I figure she's probably got a few things on her plate right now, so I'm not too worried that she did not get back to me today...
Either that or she had the IT department add your address to the blacklist.
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"Don't steal. The government hates competition." |
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atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium
join:2004-02-14
Lake Charles, LA
clubs:
| reply to dg2
When I leave the office tommorow morning, I am going to go home, get her e-mail address, and send her an e-mail asking her about these things, and then I am going to write a letter by US mail and send that to her also. I may even request a return receipt to verify that she did indeed receive the letter.
I think you should really consider getting the media involved, because, obviously, nothing is going to change. |
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