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When AT&T announced a plan to buy NorthPoint Communications Group last week, more than 110,000 DSL (digital subscriber line) users all across the country were told they would lose their high speed Internet access. Some users have accepted the announcement as business as usual in the topsy-turvy world of Internet service providers, while others, especially those who do not have other high-speed Net options, are less content. Although NorthPoint didn't offer DSL access directly to end users, it provided ISPs with access to its DSL networks.

Discussions about the NorthPoint matter are raging across the Web at sites such as open-source news site Slashdot and the broadband information site DSLReports. Angry words, virtual sighs, petitions, and the inevitable talk of class action lawsuits are common. Although some affected ISPs affected are taking harsh criticism, others are receiving praise for their transparent and active handling of the situation.

It's Up to the ISP

NorthPoint sold access to its DSL network to ISPs including Verio, Telocity, Microsoft's MSN, and XO Communications. NorthPoint decided to end DSL service because it couldn't secure the funding needed to operate its network, according to a letter posted on NorthPoint's Web site.

Telocity announced Monday that it will offer one month of service at no charge to those customers whose DSL line goes down as a result of the sale of NorthPoint's national DSL network. It also initiated discussions with at least 12 other ISPs to negotiate a deal to keep NorthPoint's network active until all customers can be switched to other last-mile providers.

Telocity is also negotiating with AT&T to keep the network afloat until all the passengers can abandon ship. NorthPoint resellers are also petitioning the bankruptcy court to keep the network running until customers can be moved to new service elsewhere.

AT&T said it would acquire NorthPoint for $135 million on March 23. The price was seen by many observers as low for the once highly valued NorthPoint, which fell on hard times and declared bankruptcy after failed merger with Verizon Communications.

XO Communication's handling of the issue is "an example of how an ISP should NOT handle this type of situation," according to a posting at the Slashdot site from a customer who calls himself "FreeUser." XO denied knowing of any potential problems with its DSL service until its network was already non-operational, according to FreeUser.

An XO spokesperson says the company has been working nonstop for two weeks to move customers out of NorthPoint's service. "We've tried very hard to communicate with our customers," says Todd Wolfenbarger, XO's vice president of corporate communications. Wolfenbarger estimates that less than 20 percent of XO's customers have underlying NorthPoint services, but could not guess how long it would take to get them moved.

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