Liz Kay's Sunday 11 January 2009 Sun article entitled "Comcast Cables Installed in Gutter" described *exactly* the same problem I had here in Columbia with a Comcast patch cable exposed in the gutter, running across two driveways, for nearly a year. I'd called Comcast about it three times and they had yet to place the cable underground.

We had to move it every time all Summer and Fall to mow grass and rake leaves. After Comcast left it there all Spring, Summer and Fall 2008, they sent a crew of a dozen or so men and four trucks out in October, and dug extensive trenches in both yards (the hole at the end in my yard was waist deep and 3-4 feet wide) and tunneled under both driveways to prepare the underground path. I talked with the workmen at the time; they just dug the tunnel, covered it all back up (BTW, they did a good job at filling in the holes), and left.

So, I called Comcast again and asked them when they were going to bury the cable. I told them I was concerned that cable service would be interrupted if the cable were to break with cars driving over it every day, once winter temperatures started freezing. The customer service rep left the phone for 15 or 20 minutes, came back on and said she'd discussed it with the technicians, said "if it hasn't broken by now, it likely won't break," and that they would be out here "next week" to finish the job. They did not.

After reading Ms. Kay's article, using the addresses shown in the text, I sent an email on Sunday 11 January describing the situation to Baltimore Sun's Watchdog and Cc'd Ms. Kay and Comcast Cares. Within 30 minutes I had a reply back from Comcast's Director of Digital Care saying he would put a crew right on it. The next morning Comcast technicians came out, removed the patch cable and put cabling underground in under an hour. I also got 3 phone calls during the process from Comcast tech support to make sure everything was going well, and then that the job had been completed satisfactorily.

Based on that experience, I must conclude that the combination of Watchdog and Comcast Cares offers quick and effective problem resolution. Thank you!

Michael Brown, thanks for reading and following up! --- lfk.

Over the last two weeks, I've had three comcast techs out to "fix" my internet. I have to reset my cable modem at least once a day and as much as 10-12 times a day.

Each phone call begins with interminable hold time and then connection with a self-righteous rep who, obviously has no real interest in helping me fix my problem, but is rather just passing time until lunch.

I begin each phone call by recapping the history - resetting the modem multiple times per day, low signal strength, on and on.

I had csr ask me which OS I use (vista, xp and mac osx), as if that matter, ask me if i run wired or wireless, and other questions that quite honestly have nothing to do with the signal at the modem.

If verizon was in my neighborhood, i would never have to call comcast again (after calling them to cancel my service, that is).

Comcast has a monopoly in Maryland and really has no desire to provide a high level of customer service or actually solve problems. What difference does it make? They are the only game in town for hs internet.

I HATE COMCAST.