It's been almost a month now, and my Callcentric service is still out.
I've tried a few "VPN" providers, without success: ProtonVPN, and "Perfect Privacy," among others. None of them have worked, and I don't know why. What used to be a telephone on my living room table is now a paperweight, not useful, not usable.
The news channels I watch via streaming media, such as Reuters, CBS, and even the TV station in Charlotte, show frequent gaps and buffering. NetFlix and Amazon Prime video, likewise, grow less and less usable as the noose tightens. One person, who called me from a number identified as "Galaxy Cablevision," told me that the problem could be addressed by paying for a fixed IP address. The message from Zito Media is clear, although not subtle: "Pay more."
I'm tempted to say "'Twas always thus, 'twill ever be." I'm tempted to shrug my shoulers and remind my self that the nation I fought for in Vietnam is run for the benefit of the ruling class, and admit that my skillset is now dated and (in this case) ineffective. I'm tempted to give up and put up with marginal cell phone coverage and getting- worse-by-the-day Internet service, and with having offerings that compete with Zito Media's version of VoIP being blocked and rendered useless.
Well, I may be aged but I am not yet dead, and not likely to give in.
I want to try to appeal to the government here in North Carolina, which might be responsive, given that it's an election year, even though I doubt any "solution" will survive the election. I'm trying to think of a way to catch Zito Media in the act, in the hope that having actionable evidence will curb their arrogance and trickery in the long term.
If any of my readers know how Comcast was caught blocking ports, and what means were used to gather the evidence that was used to prove those actions, please tell me. If any of you have the training and/or equipment needed to gather that evidence, please contact me offline.
Bill Horne