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story category BBR Awards
Announcement and results
(old news - 11:07AM Tuesday Feb 24 2004)
tags: BBR-News
After some statistical machinations, the perl script has churned over the last year of reviews to produce the first BBR Awards to companies that are frequently reviewed by our users. Without further ado, the envelope please.

SONIC.NET DSL EXTREME.COM Optimum Online TransEdge Earthlink Cable Modem Service WOW Internet and Cable DLS Internet Services


Bell Sympatico BellSouth Speakeasy Cox HSI Covad Cogeco CYBERONIC INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS, INC Sprint Fast Connect RoadRunner Cable Shaw Insight Cable



Mediacom Pacific Bell - SBC SBC Southwestern Bell TELUS Ameritech - SBC Rogers Hi Speed ISOMEDIA Verizon Online DSL Verizon west (ex GTE) EarthLink SBC YAHOO SNET - Southern NE Telephone RCN CABLE Adelphia PowerLink Comcast Charter Pipeline ALLTEL Comcast (Formerly ATT Broadband) Vonage packet8.net


To read more about this award, we've prepared a small FAQ : About BBR Awards. Undoubtably a number of wonderful regional or niche ISPs should also be on this list. If you agree, and are on such an ISP, then please consider reviewing them so that we have enough results to calculate a reasonable rating next time.

The awards are recalculated every week from now on, but given the amount of data that goes into the ratings and rankings, we expect few if any changes week to week.

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Forums » BBR Awards
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Post a:
page: 1 · 2

xdeadhead
220, 221, Whatever It Takes.
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA

im thinking comcast deserves

a cardboard award.
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:11:36 · Reply to this

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Re: im thinking comcast deserves

I was thinking in terms of a illustrated rectal suppository
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:25:04 · Reply to this

SuperJudge
Magus
Premium
join:2002-11-14
Albany, GA
clubs:

Re: im thinking comcast deserves

OMG! hahaha L5
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:46:57 · Reply to this

kaisa
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs:		 rofl!
permalink · 2004-02-24 13:08:36 · Reply to this

mskittykat
Reality Bites...So I'm Back
Premium
join:2002-10-17
Upper Marlboro, MD		 You give them too much credit.
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:25:44 · Reply to this

andunn

join:2001-09-06
Linn Creek, MO
·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T Midwest

 Perhaps an award on slowest to equal, meet, or exceed what other broadband providers are offering. Charter would get #1 for my vote. Go Charter!!

Seriously though I haven't had much problems with Charter. I just get a little frustrated with all of these announcements on other companies giving more speed to customers, lowering prices,,,,. It just seems like Charter is stuck in a rut right now.
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:25:46 · Reply to this

steelbeel

@msanet.com		 Nah. Comcast's award should be invisible.
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:29:38 · Reply to this

IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL

Insight yea right

A silver for Insight? Maybe in reliability and increased stability of the network since they took over the reigns 3 years ago or so from @Home. But for pricing, speeds and customer service they definitely have a lot more work to do before getting that silver. SBC is destroying them price and speed wise with there new tiers. It's to bad Project Pronto - didn't stay pronto. Or many of us Insight customers would be out the door pronto and going to SBC.
--
Test Your Security Team Z Member Cable Modem Diagnostics InsightBB waiting for new tiers
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:22:07 · Print · Reply to this

AlkalineArmy
Premium
join:2002-03-14
Henderson, KY

Re: Insight yea right

Agreed Iggy. The sad thing is, if this were done a year ago, they would probably have gotten a gold award. And unless things change soon, I'm sure they will end up at bronze, or more likely, with no award.
--
"You gave up on me a long time ago, I can't say I blame you..."
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:37:48 · Reply to this

Stewy85
Premium
join:2003-01-16
Sharon, WI
clubs:

Hmm

I thought Charter would do better than bronze.
--
0111010001110010011101010111010001101000
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:22:58 · Reply to this

Masque

join:2001-12-04
Auburn, MI
·Charter Pipeline

Re: Hmm

said by Stewy85 See Profile:
I thought Charter would do better than bronze.
I'm thinking it's the price vs. speed issue.....though it's been stable enough for me.
--
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making the world believe that he didn't exist"
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:24:55 · Reply to this
casscarr2002
Speed O'Metre

join:2003-11-14
L0R 2H8

Oversight?

How dare Cogeco not be under the Gold Medal Category.
I am embarrassed as a Cogeco customer that BBR has our names so closely associated with Bell Sympatico. I will not go sit in the corner until further notice.
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:25:22 · Reply to this

Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON
·Cogeco Cable

Re: Oversight?

said by casscarr2002 See Profile:
How dare Cogeco not be under the Gold Medal Category.
I am embarrassed as a Cogeco customer that BBR has our names so closely associated with Bell Sympatico. I will not go sit in the corner until further notice.
Agreed, Cogeco doesn't deserve anything less then Gold. Looks like the French judge was biased against the Canadian, again
--
"Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves." - Albert Einstein
Yes, I CanChat. Can You?
permalink · 2004-02-24 18:53:34 · Print · Reply to this

Griz_
Disenchanted optimist
Premium
join:2002-03-09
Wavecrest ON
clubs:

Re: Oversight?

I absolutely agree. I honestly assumed that this was an oversight and expected to see it corrected when I got home from work tonight. I'm shocked.
permalink · 2004-02-26 01:17:16 · Reply to this

bistro777
Donuts-Is There Anything They Can't Do?
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-07
Englewood, CO

You left out...

…a gold star for BBR as an Information Service Provider!

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” but “That's funny..." -- Isaac Asimov
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:39:02 · Reply to this

Optimized
Premium,Mod
join:2001-05-03
Pompton Lakes, NJ
clubs:

Host:
RCN
Patriot Media
Cellphones, provid..
Other Manufacturers

Optimum Online gets the gold

I think the gold rating for Optimum Online over the past year is a justified rating. Although some will probably come in and say otherwise I am sure.

In established territories and after preliminary roll-out bugs have been overcome the service is usually very reliable. They do have some long term challenges with e-mail and the news server that they are focusing on now. Hopefully they can get those pinned down soon.

Kudos to justin See Profile and BBR for starting this new Awards Program!

Excellent idea!
--
Chilly likes it
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:43:27 · Print · Reply to this

justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY

Re: Optimum Online gets the gold

It is interesting. Now I've got historical ratings, it is clear OOL is slipping as fast as SBC is rising.
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:50:48 · Reply to this

Optimized
Premium,Mod
join:2001-05-03
Pompton Lakes, NJ
clubs:

Host:
RCN
Patriot Media
Cellphones, provid..
Other Manufacturers

Re: Optimum Online gets the gold

I would think that the OOL rating would be heading in the downward direction. They will need to impact their problem areas if they are to maintain their high ratings.

All you need to do is stop in the OOL Forum a few times a week to see there have been some lingering issues.

Fortunately, I can count my outages for the past three years on one hand and I have not had many problems with e-mail.
--
Chilly likes it
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:56:25 · Print · Reply to this

mig
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-26
Anytown, USA
clubs:

 Don't know where SBC Southwestern Bell was in last years awards, but as a subscriber to them for almost 4 years I would have to say they should be rising. Don't know what it will take for them to get a Silver or Gold award, maybe rerating my 5000/515 from $45 down to $35 next year! ;);)
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:02:56 · Reply to this

Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH

Re: Optimum Online gets the gold

Problem is, do you rate *all* of the SBC companies now or do you keep them seperated into Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, PacBell, and so on ?? They want to be one big company so I say they should be lumped together...
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:56:39 · Reply to this

justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY

Re: Optimum Online gets the gold

for now they are rated according to region as they still behave somewhat differently. One day in the not too distant future they will all be jammed together as desired by SBC.
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:57:27 · Reply to this

bhan261

join:2001-02-12
New York, NY
edit:
February 24th, @12:54PM
 --OOL is slipping as fast as SBC is rising.--

I suspect the same could be said for Speakeasy.
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:33:35 · Reply to this

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T CallVantage
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
quote:
It is interesting. Now I've got historical ratings, it is clear OOL is slipping as fast as SBC is rising.
That does not surprise me at all. Long ago SBC DSL was a nightmare. These days they kick a lot of butt! Lowest prices, rockin' Expert Plus tier, and stellar support here at Broadband Reports, I now recommend them to everyone.

Of course, I think ISPs that offer support here at BBR deserve special recognition.

-- Rob
--
\\ROB - a part of the SCB local network
permalink · 2004-02-24 13:04:56 · Print · Reply to this

nevertheless
Premium,VIP
join:2002-03-08
Dundas, ON
·Cogeco Cable
said by justin See Profile:
It is interesting. Now I've got historical ratings, it is clear OOL is slipping as fast as SBC is rising.
It would be nice if you could provide an indication of these on the main page for each ISP. I can click down and check the stats manually, but something like 'rating direction up/down/stable' which would compare the benchmark results that you've got on the click-down might be handy. Or maybe you could use rrd+mrtg to simply show a graph of the results on the main page.

Just a thought.
--
Some people think I'm an idiot. I disagree, but idiocy is subjective--so they may well be right. With this in mind, take everything I post with a grain of salt, eh?
permalink · 2004-02-25 07:39:30 · Print · Reply to this

Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
said by Optimized See Profile:
I think the gold rating for Optimum Online over the past year is a justified rating. Although some will probably come in and say otherwise I am sure.
I'd bet though that if it weren't just ISP rating, but Cablevision a whole entity the rating would be much lower.
--
»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
permalink · 2004-02-24 23:35:43 · Print · Reply to this

IGotThePower
Samsung Sucks
Premium
join:2003-06-07
Japan Inc.

Platinum

You forgot Platinum for my 100/100Mbps ISP;)
permalink · 2004-02-24 11:49:26 · Reply to this

insomniac84

join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN

The number of reviews needs to be in there

How can a rating that only includes 10 reviews compare to a rating that includes 100 reviews?
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:09:13 · Reply to this
Gandalf4503

join:2002-06-27
Las Vegas, NV

Re: The number of reviews needs to be in there

If you click on the link for each ISP you'll see the amount of reviews they have.
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:42:59 · Reply to this

insomniac84

join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN		 Isn't funny that if a silver award required 80% or higher 6month rating, none of those isps would be in there. But a few of the bronze would then be silver.
permalink · 2004-02-24 15:46:05 · Reply to this

Capstone
Kiss My Shiny, Metal Ass
Premium
join:2001-08-12
Springfield, OH
·RoadRunner Cable

Saw this yesterday..

when I was researching ISPs for a customer. I think it's a great idea to have this and feel that it will be a useful addition to the site. If the ISPs are smart, they'll incorporate this into their advertising.
--
The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you to the truth.
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:38:39 · Reply to this
Anon

Hmm

Hmm sonic has only 177 reviews and for example verizon has 2651 reviews i don't see how sonic got first place
--
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF.
permalink · 2004-02-24 12:43:07 · Reply to this

See 8 replies to this post

DaneJasper
Sonic.Net
Premium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
clubs:

Thanks BBR!

Thanks much Justin and the team at BBR for highlighting top performing ISPs - very exciting!

Sonic.net is the BroadBandReports top rated broadband provider in California, which is serious props for our support, billing (including DSL order entry), network operations and sales teams. Thanks, staff, I'm really proud of everyone!

-Dane
»www.sonic.net/
permalink · 2004-02-24 13:37:34 · Reply to this

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
clubs:
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast

edit:
February 24th, @02:21PM

Good to see!

I have to give kudos to Justin and the rest of the BBR staff. These awards show the ISPs that are at the top of their game for one reason or another.

The awards have no bearing on other ISPs though. The local area you live in trumps just about every ISP review here. For instance, Comcast in my area totally rocks. I switched to SBC - Ameritech based solely on a cost issue. If I didn't have good DSL, then I would have went back with Comcast in a heartbeat.

I hear a lot of complaints about one ISP or another. While blame does fall on the ISP for providing a crap service, you have to realize that the entire network of the ISP sucks. There are multiple managers in charge of different areas. Not to mention all the technicians and such. You are obviously going to see a great discrepancy when it comes to service in one area and service in another with the same national ISP.

I just wish other people realized this instead of denouncing *insert ISP name here* as SUCK.
--
My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal
permalink · 2004-02-24 14:21:11 · Print · Reply to this

See 22 replies to this post

tehfox0r
Rawwwwrrr
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Lexington, KY
clubs:

Adelphia on the rise!

w00t! go adelphia!
permalink · 2004-02-24 16:36:41 · Reply to this

2kmaro
Think
Premium,ExMod 1 BC
join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs:

Regional Breakdowns?

Would it be feasible to break some of the nationwide providers such as Cox and RR into some kind of geographic categories (East, Central, West or North / South). From inhabiting the Cox HSI forum I know that the ratings from various parts of the country vary greatly - Cox HSI in Virginia is not the same as Cox HSI in Oklahoma which is not the same quality service as Cox HSI somewhere else.

But the fact that BBR is coming out making any kind of "statement" like this is to be applauded. Gives a nice place to point to when people ask "who should I choose as my provider" - we can point and say, "Look here and start with Gold and work your way through the lists until you find one in your area."
--
Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. Barry LePatner
permalink · 2004-02-24 18:46:14 · Print · Reply to this
Kiwi
Premium
join:2003-05-26
USA
·Comcast
·Aristotle Internet

Re: Regional Breakdowns?

2Kmaro -Makes a very valid point!
quote:
Would it be feasible to break some of the nationwide providers such as Cox and RR into some kind of geographic categories (East, Central, West or North / South). From inhabiting the Cox HSI forum I know that the ratings from various parts of the country vary greatly - Cox HSI in Virginia is not the same as Cox HSI in Oklahoma which is not the same quality service as Cox HSI somewhere else.
Of course there are some great companies that don't have exposure -But have great results!

Great start to a cool concept.

Cheers
--
2.66g/533fsb Intel CPU @ 3.28g 512meg Twinmos PC3700~466 DDR @ 2.8v ATI 9500 Pro @ 9700 Pro@1.6vAMD ASUS A7N8X-E2500+@3200 ATI 9500 Pro, Corsair 512LL.
permalink · 2004-02-24 19:33:34 · Print · Reply to this

fatness
subtle
Janitor
join:2000-11-17
fishing

Host:
Earthlink DSL
TekSavvy
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said by 2kmaro See Profile:
Would it be feasible to break some of the nationwide providers such as Cox and RR into some kind of geographic categories (East, Central, West or North / South).
That would be helpful, if it doesn't break down data into such small groups that they're questionable samples. Service does vary from location to location.
said by Nightfall See Profile:
The local area you live in trumps just about every ISP review here.....

...You are obviously going to see a great discrepancy when it comes to service in one area and service in another with the same national ISP.
--
from a broken hill
permalink · 2004-02-25 10:07:08 · Print · Reply to this

antwanp
ObamaBiden 2008 I voted, did you?
Premium
join:2002-05-14
Cedar Hill, TX
clubs:

Comcast

I've never had a major problem with Comcast. IMO they should've gotten at least silver.
permalink · 2004-02-24 19:37:00 · Reply to this

GNXPower
Got Boost?
Premium
join:2003-12-18
Huntington Beach, CA

Awards should be DESERVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You would think these were handed out by California public screwel teachers.

Few if any of these ISPs should get "passing" marks. Looks to me like the bronze awards are handed out for getting a listing as their review ratings are sorely lacking.

Awards should be RESERVED for those ISPs DESERVING them.
--
To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
permalink · 2004-02-24 20:06:23 · Reply to this
L Campanazo

join:2003-12-15

Re: Awards should be DESERVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed 100%.
Bronze is still hellovagood give gold to top 3, silver next 5 n bronze to next 7. Rest don't get mentioned exept for last place or some particularly heinious crime they enforce...
permalink · 2004-02-24 20:17:06 · Reply to this
TercelChick

join:2002-08-13

Congrats BellSouth

BellSouth DSL got silver. I think it's about fair considering the environmental differences in the nine-state region. Lord knows they've improved it over time. It is way better than it was back in 1998 when I used to do support. That Westell in ethernet mode is the next best thing to a bridged connection. I've had my DSL on the old Alcatel Speedtouch since 2001 and I still love it.
permalink · 2004-02-24 20:49:40 · Reply to this

FLECOM
Bay Networks Freak
Premium
join:2003-03-03
Miami, FL

Where is DSLi?

eh?
permalink · 2004-02-24 22:53:22 · Reply to this

one_bored_si

join:2003-03-10
Montebello, CA

what the hell

I dont see want warrents a bronze award for charter. They are the slowest (to upgrade) cable BB provider in the country.
permalink · 2004-02-25 00:07:24 · Reply to this

jeisenberg
New Year's Eve

join:2001-07-06
Windsor, ON
·Cogeco Voip
·Cogeco Cable

Cogeco's Rating

I'm sure everyone who is happy with their ISP thinks ratings should be higher, and vice versa.

However, in Cogeco's case, their unparalleled speed and price performance (remember, we're talking CANADIAN dollars here) in Canada should put them in the same league as OOL in the U.S.

And that's GOLD territory!
permalink · 2004-02-25 17:47:28 · Reply to this

3SGTE
ST215W
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
clubs:

Re: Cogeco's Rating

I too was very surprised that Cogeco did not make Gold.

Is it possible that the C$ / USD$ exchange rate was overlooked?

How are different service tiers worked in to the equation?
--
I killed all of your ugly smilies! Plain text smilies for me!
permalink · 2004-02-25 22:43:19 · Reply to this

Griz_
Disenchanted optimist
Premium
join:2002-03-09
Wavecrest ON
clubs:		 I don't get it either
permalink · 2004-02-26 01:39:14 · Reply to this
Forums » BBR Awardspage: 1 · 2

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