When a developer meticulously documented their broadband cancellation journey—dubbed 'Project Yeet Broadband'—they expected liberation from soaring bills and unreliable service. What they didn't anticipate was the perfect storm of irony: a 'customer satisfaction survey' from their former ISP arriving just hours later. Their response? A masterclass in dismantling the broadband monopoly playbook.

The Survey as a Microcosm of Industry Failure

The survey’s very design revealed entrenched assumptions:

"It kept asking me whether I managed to find the necessary information to 'get the most out of' my service—as if the problem was not that they charge ever-increasing fees for a service that adds less value to my life every year, but simply that I am too dumb to understand how to use it."
This framing, the developer noted, epitomizes how ISPs deflect blame for poor value onto users. When prompted to explain their cancellation reason beyond preset options like 'too expensive,' they delivered a brutal fiscal analysis:
"$80 per month, invested at 7 percent annually, is nearly $40,000 after 20 years. A home broadband Internet connection simply cannot match that value."

The Case for Public Broadband: Faster, Cheaper, Human

Citing extensive reporting by Techdirt, the developer highlighted how public broadband networks universally outperform private providers in speed, cost, and customer service. They pointed to communities across the U.S. and grassroots efforts like the DIY project in Michigan as proof that alternatives aren’t just viable—they’re superior. Their recommendation was unequivocal:

"I will never recommend a private broadband company again. Public broadband is cheaper, faster, and offers better customer service in 100% of the markets that adopt it."

Cancellation Dark Patterns and the 'White Lady Email' Gambit

The final indignity? The cancellation process itself. When the survey asked about dissatisfaction with the cancellation call, the developer channeled strategic politeness to expose manipulative UX:

"We had to sit through several 'processing' queues that magically only exist when I call to downgrade or cancel... Perhaps adding a one-click-to-cancel option would help?"
This subtle callout highlights deliberate friction—a dark pattern familiar to developers who design (or dismantle) such systems.

Life After Broadband: Garage Cleaning and Chicken TV

In a poignant coda, the developer shared their post-cancellation reality: a cleaned garage and hours spent watching 'Chicken TV' in the backyard. This wasn’t just a personal win; it symbolized reclaiming agency from a service demanding ever more money for diminishing returns. Their phone hotspot—cheaper and more reliable—sufficed, proving that for many, the broadband monolith’s value proposition is fundamentally broken.

Source: drmollytov.dev, August 1, 2025