I just changed Internet Service Providers, and I'm still getting used to this one. I had that trouble too, and yes it pissed me off.
Get this, we also were with a company that you could only download 300 MB per month, which was hard to stay under, so now we are with someone that is unlimited Download, and I'm off to check out Napster
Sorry about your problematic ISP, I am on RoadRunner and have not experienced any downtime of any consequence at all.......maybe you should look at finding a new ISP?