I have Windstream aka/formerly Alltel DSL, but because their email program gives you a very limited capacity, I was losing messages. Their system drops messages in your all folders if they are more than a given number of days old or it rejects them because your inbox quickly reaches the alloted capacity. That's why I switched to G Mail, and haven't used my Windstream/Alltel email in a year or more.
I'm like Paul. I'm in the Alltel/Windstream service area, and they don't allow any other ISP providers into their area, unlike the greater Metro Atlanta area, where you have a wide choice of providers. They are allowed to operate a monopoly. The only way around it is like Paul says...Go Satellite. However, there is one drawback to that. Clouds will block out the signal. In times of severe weather, when my tv goes out, I switch to my computer to watch Doppler Radar and the various storm tracker programs. With Satellite internet, both go out at once. So I keep my Windstream/Alltel DSL for connection purposes.