Comcast downplays Internet and e-mail disruptions

Comcast defended its network and downplayed the scope of Internet and e-mail service interruptions being experienced by customers in New Jersey. At the same time, many of those customers complained about the severity of the technical problems during the past week and a half, the New York Times reported today.

A Comcast spokesman said the problems stemmed from the migration of customers from the bankrupt Excite@Home network to its own network. He said the problems, including “limited” interruptions of Internet connectivity and failure to send and receive e-mail, affected about 10% of the company’s 71,000 customers in northern New Jersey.

However, customers reported losing service for several days, and several reported service outages lasting more than a week. Complaints were also received concerning Comcast’s technical-service unit. Customers allegedly were greeted with fast busy signals or inexperienced technicians incapable of addressing the technical problems, said the Times.

--Glenn Bischoff, senior writer