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story category Getting $10 AT&T DSL No Easy Task
One man's quest to get the lowest priced DSL available....
(old news - 07:22AM Friday Jul 13 2007)
tags: dsl · prices · business · AT&T
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The Chicago Tribune discovers AT&T's unadvertised $10 DSL several weeks after the fact. The article notes that the Citizens Utility Board in Chicago is pointing out the deal to local consumers, while AT&T remains mum on whether it will ever be advertised:
AT&T's Ralph de la Vega said that $10 a month should attract a lot of dial-up customers who pay that much or more for Internet connections. "It's one of the tools we have," he said, but he declined to say when or if AT&T might draw more attention to the $10 rate. "We're exploring ways to get the carrot out there to get customers to experience the difference broadband makes," de la Vegas said.
Engadget, meanwhile, points to one man's quest to sign up for the $10 offer, which for him included more than a dozen steps and a lot of time on the phone with AT&T.

Related:
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  2. Friday Evening Links
  3. Monday Evening Links
  4. Wednesday Evening Links
  5. Qwest Sued Over DSL Early Termination Fees
  6. Qwest Tells Us Their FTTN Plan Is Ahead Of Schedule
  7. Friday Evening Links
  8. Verizon DSL Customers Getting Free Upgrades
Forums » Getting $10 AT&T DSL No Easy Task
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jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs:

where is this?

I can't find it here in the North East Ohio region
--
www.LakeSemaJ.com
DslTrblShoot

join:2004-09-23

Go to the Website!

This is an online offer only...you have to go to the website to order it. Why the guy in the article called on the phone to get an online offer only is beyond me.

All you have to do is click on the banner that says dsl at an even lower price. And then follow the steps...if your a new customer then you can get the 10 dollar dsl..its really not that difficult..

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast


edit:
July 13th, @08:48AM

Re: Go to the Website!

said by DslTrblShoot See Profile :

All you have to do is click on the banner that says dsl at an even lower price. And then follow the steps...if your a new customer then you can get the 10 dollar dsl..its really not that difficult..
If you're a new customer.....

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.

Just an attempt by AT&T to make it difficult for consumers to take advantage of the $10 dollar DSL that was agreed upon in order for the FCC to approve the merger. They figure the customer with no Internet will call in.. then be offered some other 'lower' plan after they are told that the $10/mo. one doesn't exist.

Mactron
el Camino Real
Premium
join:2001-12-16
CM94sv


edit:
July 13th, @08:55AM

Re: Go to the Website!

said by Rob See Profile :

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.
Neighbor, friends house, Library, WiFi hot spot...

said by Rob See Profile :

Just an attempt by AT&T to make it difficult for consumers to take advantage of the $10 dollar DSL
Naw, they wouldn't do that would they ?..


pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

said by Rob See Profile :

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.
Go to a library, do it from work, go to a neighbor who has Internet.
--
Only SHATNER is Kirk.

ape

join:2002-05-10
Chicago, IL

Re: Go to the Website!

any Office Depot or Staples have free wifi
gizmopt2002

join:2004-09-10
Fox River Grove, IL

Re: Go to the Website!

Staples Wi-fi is slow as balls!!
NewMariner

join:2005-06-24

said by Rob See Profile :

said by DslTrblShoot See Profile :

All you have to do is click on the banner that says dsl at an even lower price. And then follow the steps...if your a new customer then you can get the 10 dollar dsl..its really not that difficult..
If you're a new customer.....

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.
Actually very few people DON'T have some form of internet access. Whether it be dial up, satellite, isdn, t1,cable. If you dont have at least one of these services by now, then more then likely dsl isnt going to be available at that location anyway. So this is really a moot point. If you really wanted it would be easy to go to a website. The library gives free access. Im sure your neighbors have access. If you have a laptop, simply use their open network to get access and order yours.

Whats your agenda CableBoy?

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Go to the Website!

said by NewMariner See Profile :

said by Rob See Profile :

said by DslTrblShoot See Profile :

All you have to do is click on the banner that says dsl at an even lower price. And then follow the steps...if your a new customer then you can get the 10 dollar dsl..its really not that difficult..
If you're a new customer.....

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.
Actually very few people DON'T have some form of internet access. Whether it be dial up, satellite, isdn, t1,cable. If you dont have at least one of these services by now, then more then likely dsl isnt going to be available at that location anyway. So this is really a moot point. If you really wanted it would be easy to go to a website. The library gives free access. Im sure your neighbors have access. If you have a laptop, simply use their open network to get access and order yours.

Whats your agenda CableBoy?
Well if you had DSL in the past, then you can't get the $10/dollar deal anyways.

I have no agenda and I'm not a "CableBoy". Geez I love the members on this forum, you disagree with a telco or a cable co, so you must be a fan of the other industry. How about I'm a fan of neither?
--
YourIP.US - It's Your IP .. and more!
rr.cx - Personal Site.. coming soon.

Bell System
Premium
join:2005-12-04
Strongsville, OH
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T CallVantage

Re: Go to the Website!

Actually one of basically three criteria were that you can't have had dsl in the past 12 months. I believe the three criteria were...

1. Have local service w/ at&t in an ilec region.
2. Be in range of DSL service.
3. Can't have had (at&t) dsl in past 12 months.

raydog1
Feel Secure
Premium
join:2003-07-10
La Vergne, TN

I don't understand why people are being so hostile towards this guy. He explains every step he had to take in order to get the service and even gives a rundown for anyone else trying to get it. No good turn goes unpunished eh?

BTW, he explains why he had do some of this over the phone in the blog. You have to read both blog entries on this to get the complete picture.
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: Go to the Website!

said by raydog1 See Profile :

I don't understand why people are being so hostile towards this guy. He explains every step he had to take in order to get the service and even gives a rundown for anyone else trying to get it. No good turn goes unpunished eh?

BTW, he explains why he had do some of this over the phone in the blog. You have to read both blog entries on this to get the complete picture.
When I read the actual daily byte this morning, I had to laugh at him all together. He's one of those people that like to push the extreme of the rule.

Here are a few points that make him out to be a little wacko:

1) 4:53 - Hold music playing "Hey jude"

2) 4:55 (two minutes later) stresses that he's still on an interoffice transfer!! : gasp : - This is an attempt to make this into an extreme issue.

3) He needs a code. Big deal! It's called the customer code. All telephone customers have them. He's right, he needs the code, but that's not specific to the $10 DSL offer as he'd need it to order ANY service. This is just a flaw/bump in their system all together. The CC is actually there for the customer protection yet he trivializes it.

4) "Low Blow" - "They make you pay for the router"?? So? When is a router supposed to be free? They usually offer them as "promotions"... oh geez... when did promotions become the normal? To penny pincher extremest types, I guess they are. The only time they started giving any equipment away for free was either with contract customers, or those on higher dollar plans. It's called a "reward"... not an entitlement. He's exploiting this as something bad.

5) He complains about the first available installation date as being "July 16th" - "A little long me thinks".. So when did 5 days become a bit long? It's cable that gives you faster HSI installs.. DSL has always been AT LEAST a week *no matter what speed* you choose. In fact, for the longest time, DSL was always about a 3 week turn around time but it has steadily improved over the years for the better. 5 days is hardly anything to gripe about. Getting call waiting added takes about 3 days, and there is much more into getting DSL ready on a line. So, two extra days is hardly "long".. again, it's that he'e trying to exploit these issues to the "$10 DSL" product.

It's people like him that play to the lowest form in order to gain attention.

NOTHING he stated in there was any kind of punishment for going after the $10 DSL service.

He also lies to people and tells them to answer "Yes" when they ask you if you are poor. So , I guess he also stands for committing fraud as well.

It's not that he's trying to explain his experience, that can't be disputed. It also doesn't mean he's not an idiot, which this reader thinks he is. And, keep in mind, I'm not a fan of the phone company - AT&T especially - but he's really pushing the limits here to make a point. He calls it a hassle and tries to tie it to the $10 product.. but, nothing he stated in there was $10 specific as to their requirements. Seems pretty standard to me for any DSL product.

If I followed his instructions, I'd take longer to get service ordered AND I would wind up most likely loosing my service for fraud. I think the people that aren't friendly towards his efforts are those that can identify someone simply seeking to ruin the image of someone in the name of attention for himself.
--
"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..."

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

Re: Go to the Website!

Amen. He is the "low blow", as it were. Too stupid to follow directions and too demanding as in he is entitled to everything at no cost/no wait. The blog owner is the poster boy for the impatient, gimme, gimme now!, drive-thru windows, but I'm fvsking entitled crowd so I lie to get what I want and their ilk.
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?

SkyBlue

join:2007-03-31

said by Rob See Profile :

Well if you had DSL in the past, then you can't get the $10/dollar deal anyways.

I have no agenda and I'm not a "CableBoy". Geez I love the members on this forum, you disagree with a telco or a cable co, so you must be a fan of the other industry. How about I'm a fan of neither?
I agree with you people seem to be real hard fans of ADSL an cut you up when you don't agree or say something that threatens the quality. Act like big babies.

Sadly most of the people on here work or are supposed to be considered adults. But by the comments just made to you I would suggest they are not acting there age.

Oh well cable boy or telco boy will get over it. hah

SkyBlue

join:2007-03-31

said by NewMariner See Profile :

Whats your agenda CableBoy?
Here we go lets get defensive now.

BIG BOY!

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

said by Rob See Profile :

If you're a new customer.....

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.
Yes they do. AOL still has how many dial-up customers that they failed to get upgraded to Broadband. Did I hear Millions and Millions?

You are being just a bit unrealistic in regards to the number of dial users still connected the old fashioned way.
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast


edit:
July 16th, @07:18AM

Re: Go to the Website!

said by Doctor Olds See Profile :

said by Rob See Profile :

If you're a new customer.....

How then would you just "go online" and get it? See the irony here? You still need an Internet connection. Not everyone has one at home and not everyone has dialup either.
Yes they do. AOL still has how many dial-up customers that they failed to get upgraded to Broadband. Did I hear Millions and Millions?

You are being just a bit unrealistic in regards to the number of dial users still connected the old fashioned way.
Yes, AOL has millions upon millions of customers. How many of those account for dialup vs BYOA? How many of those already "cancelled" their account but Enron AOL already marked them as "current customers"?

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

Re: Go to the Website!

said by Rob See Profile :

Yes, AOL has millions upon millions of customers. How many of those account for dialup vs BYOA? How many of those already "cancelled" their account but Enron AOL already marked them as "current customers"?
Many of those went right to another dial-up provider from AOL dial-up as they did not want a $40.00 per month Broadband bill. They instead went to NetZero, PeoplePC and all the other smaller players in the $10.00 to $12.00 dollars per month dial-up service price range.

AT&T's DSL users eclipse AOL's dial-up subscribers [May 02 2007]
»sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/···id=16093
quote:
AT&T says it has 12.9 million subscribers, more than AOL's 12 million users, which Time Warner announced today.
That is 12 Million dial-up users just at AOL from their original 25 Million.

The other 12 Million did not go to broadband, they went to cheaper dial-up. Now with $10.00 DSL, that is a large market to penetrate.

Enjoy.
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?

odreian615

join:2006-01-18
Chicago, IL
I understand that some cant get online to get this but isnt
thats why we are here for to help them
beaups

join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH

$10 Broadband...

I signed up online here in Columbus, OH. 15 minutes....

Corona
It's cool, I'm takin it back
Premium
join:2000-03-14
San Antonio, TX

Re: $10 Broadband...

said by beaups See Profile :

I signed up online here in Columbus, OH. 15 minutes....
You must be lying!! How can that be since NOBODY can figure out how to do it?
--
Corona "No, make no mistake. It's not revenge he's after; it's a reckoning."

Check out the band 1000 Miles From Home
beaups

join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH

Re: $10 Broadband...

I guess I'm smart I had no active pots line prior. I did notice that if I tried to signup without getting a voice line (naked DSL?), the plans were ridiculously more expensive. Anyhow it's like $7 for the voice line, and 9.99 for the DSL. Waiting for the first bill to see how many other fees/taxes/etc. are on there as I have not had a voice line in years.
bamabrad

join:2006-01-27
Port Orange, FL

I signed up online-

Had a dial-up acct for 9.99 that went up to $15-Saw a posting here on BBR with a link-went to their web site to show a friend and could not find it.

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

Re: I signed up online-

said by bamabrad See Profile :

Had a dial-up acct for 9.99 that went up to $15-Saw a posting here on BBR with a link-went to their web site to show a friend and could not find it.
You can't see it until after you put in your number (or your friends number) to pre-qualify for DSL on your active telephone line and then answer 2 questions correctly. The offer appears after that, not before.
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?
bamabrad

join:2006-01-27
Port Orange, FL

Re: I signed up online-

WOW! That really is puttin' it out there for all (not) to see!

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

Re: I signed up online-

said by bamabrad See Profile :

WOW! That really is puttin' it out there for all (not) to see!
Two qualifying questions to weed out people that are not eligible? That is not that hard or complex. How many seconds does it take to respond to two (2) simple questions (radio buttons at that) after putting your phone number in?

It took you longer to reply that it would to handle the pre-qual page.
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?
bamabrad

join:2006-01-27
Port Orange, FL

Re: I signed up online-

OK-Let's split hairs-AT&T HAD to make the offer-BUT did not make is very easy AT ALL-WHY make it so hidden?-not that we both don't know why-so there really is no need to answer this question that was just typed.

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

Re: I signed up online-

bamabrad

join:2006-01-27
Port Orange, FL

Re: I signed up online-

Is he laughing or crying? LOL!

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T CallVantage
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME

Picky, picky...

quote:
My first available activation date is July 16th. A little long on the activation date, methinks, but then I suppose beggars can't be choosers.
He posted the article on July 11th. 5 days is long? Good grief, I remember when it took over a month to get DSL installed.

I'm not sure I like his suggestion about claiming to be poor when ordering the POTS portion of his line. I realize he probably will never use it so I guess it's not hurting anyone, but it gives me that "parking in a handicapped space" kind of feeling.
--
Laser eye surgery rocks! I love frickin' laser beams.
mlundin

join:2001-03-27
Mishawaka, IN
·Comcast

Doesn't sound to hard to me...

I've set up service with AT&T before without claiming that I was poor and signed up for an advertised DSL package and I had to jump through the same hoops that he did. "No Easy Task"... NEWSFLASH!!!! Nothing with AT&T is an easy task! That's just how those idiots operate.
blacksurfer

join:2002-07-14
Sherman Oaks, CA

Need to buy a modem?

What if you have your own modem? Gotta still buy their $49 modem?
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: Doesn't sound to hard to me...

When you claim you're "poor" you are asking for Life Line service with is a government subsidized program for those on low income. You also are subject to random qualification checks.. If HE wants to defraud the phone company, the government, and the tax payers, that's his problem but he shouldn't be telling anyone else to break the law.
--
"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..."

TransitMan
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-05
Dayton, OH
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·Earthlink TrueVoice
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
·AT&T Midwest

Getting $10 ATT DSL Was Easy....

....so easy infact, that it took me 10 minutes to sign up my step-kids father for it, since he was till on dial-up.

Answered the questions posed, and got the $10.00 rate, no muss, no fuss.

And yes, you have ot "buy" the modem, but there is a $50.00 rebate on it, so in essence it is free.

[RANT ON] Why do folks always bitch and moan about trying to get something without ever attepting it themselves.
Ragging on the folks from AT&T ain't going to make it any better, and they sure as heck won't coddle you into it either.
Online Only means Online Only. And those who call in may or may not get the deal.
So if and until you try and sign up yourself, or you try and help a friend or family member to get the deal because you already have AT&T DSL, then move along. No one really cares about what you think you can do or not do.[/RANT OFF]


And no, I DO NOT work for nor have any affiliation to AT&T.
--
PROUD TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE CRUNCHENSTEIN ASSOCIATION AND THE HOST OF CRUNCHENSTEIN #2
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: Getting $10 ATT DSL Was Easy....

From my experience, on the modem, you can do the order on line, specify the modem, but if you have your own modem that will work, you can call in and THEN have them take the modem off the account.

HOWEVER, they are going naturally ask why you have a modem on a service that is for 'new customers only'... those customers are assumed not to have a modem which is why there is "no modem necessary' option. However, you CAN certainly purchase a modem from someone, but again, they're going to wonder why buy when they are giving you one for free after rebate?

So - why bother.
--
"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..."

Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:

Re: Getting $10 ATT DSL Was Easy....

said by fiberguy See Profile :

HOWEVER, they are going naturally ask why you have a modem on a service that is for 'new customers only'... those customers are assumed not to have a modem which is why there is "no modem necessary' option.
Close, but not 100% right. You can be a DSL customer of anyone else and get this offer. You just can't be a Bellsouth DSL or SBC DSL customer with existing Bellsouth DSL or SBC DSL (or in the last 12 months) and get this $10.00 DSL offer.

Here is an Earthlink DSL customer who has AT&T $10.00 DSL as a back up. LOL

»Utilizing $10 per month backup DSL

He has even used it after an outage with his primary.

»EL-DSL in Acworth, GA is down, but my backup DSL is working

Regards,

Doctor Olds
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time?

jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs:

not for me

it showed me a 20 $ plan or if i said i just wanted the internet it would just give me an error.
--
www.LakeSemaJ.com

koma3504
Advocate
Premium
join:2004-06-22
North Richland Hills, TX

$10.00 ATT DSL

»attsignup.com/att_dsl_for_$10.htm

This link should do just fine.

See 14 replies to this post

Rob A
Jets 19 - Steelers 16
Premium
join:2005-01-17
Pompton Plains, NJ

Stupid

If ATT really wants to offer $10 dsl, they should just do it, and stop fussing customers.

inNapaCA

@sbcglobal.net

my experience today

I was helping a friend of my parents sign up from the att website.

After entering their phone number we would get to the page that shows the available plans...of course the ten dollar plan was there. These people have never had DSL. Actually they are paying for an extra line just for the computer which has always been on dialup.

After going through all the steps we would get an error at the last page that said to call att...I finally did after a couple of failures online.

The gal from att told me that the offer was only good online and that she could not help me. I told her that I was only doing what the website said to do and explained in detail what was happening when we tried to order online.

Next she puts me on hold for a minute...then comes back on and says that DSL is already installed on the line and that we are not eligible for the offer.

I insisted that she was just flat wrong, then she says that we have the DSL pro package, again I explained that they were on dialup. She says maybe your DSL modem isn't plugged in.

By this time I realize that she will say anything to get rid of me....and then she says ...what is the phone number you are trying to order the DSL for!

I couldn't believe that she was making all these excuses/lies and she didn't even know what number I was calling about.

So I gave her the number and she puts me on hold...finally she comes back again and says that the number qualifies for the ten dollar plan and that they have never been on DSL.

Then again she comes back with ...I can't help you still , that's an online offer only, if I take your order I'm going to have to do it with one of the other plans.

I told her that I didn't appreciate that att was making it so difficult to signup for this plan especially in light of the fact that they have to honor their agreement as part of the merger.

After hanging up the very next try to order online went right through without a hitch except that I couldn't get the gateway, the only choice was the modem.

go figure

prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
·VoiceStick
·Comcast
·Pacific Bell - SBC
·DSL EXTREME
·Vonage
·VoicePulse

AT&T doesn't want you if:

You want $10/month DSL? They don't make money. They don't want you.

Too far from the CO or RT? They don't want you because you'll call and complain and want service calls, etc. which costs them money.

at&t is not a consumer friendly company. Remember, it's really SBC which bought BellSouth, PacBell, NevadaBell, and other telcos. SBC never had a reputation for good customer service. They are simply making decisions based on their own financial benefits, not yours. Thankfully, alternatives exist. at&t refused to give me a DSL line because I'm too far from the CO. DSLextreme.com, using at&t's lines, set me up and they have a reputation for excellent customer service.

xoxoxo

@earthlink.net

"Not Available"

Don't get this. I meet the critereon, never had dsl or dial-up intranet service with at&t and I have a southern bell/at&t land line. Checked the boxes and I end up with a dialogue box that says it's not available for my area.
(I live in Raleigh North Carolina. (It's available in NC)
I contact a rep. via e-mail chat, and I'm told I qualify
and it is available in my community, even street, but that the number of users this plan was set aside for have been met in my area and therefore it is no longer available. When asked, "If I wanted to pick-up dsl to bundle it with my phone line and cell, it's still not available even through another plan?" She responded, "No, dsl in not available to you." What has it come to when business can
blatetantly lie to you? I'll be looking for a new cell phone company and perhaps even drop my land line. This doesn't make good business sence for AT&T to me.

elvey
Spamassassin

join:2001-02-17
San Francisco, CA

FRAUD? Re: "Not Available"

It's been a few weeks since I read the agreement letter, but IIRC, there's no limit on how many customers A&T agreed to serve at $10/mo.

This smells like fraud to me.
Forums » Getting $10 AT&T DSL No Easy Task


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