After sending the email regarding packet loss in Sprintlink, someone pointed out that the post was inappropriate for the NANOG list and that I should have requested that my provider open a trouble ticket with Sprintlink on my behalf. I chose not to do that because I know that BBN Planet tried to open a trouble ticket for this very problem and was informed by Sprintlink that they (Sprintlink) could not open a trouble ticket for them since BBN Planet was not a Sprintlink customer. I presume that BBN Planet peers with Sprintlink, and such a response seems rather counterproductive to me. So, my meta-question is: Shouldn't there be an informal arrangement that allows one provider to open a trouble ticket with another provider if the providers peer with one another? Perhaps the above was an isolated incident, or perhaps it is a policy unique to Sprintlink. Nevertheless, it strikes me as antithetical to building a well-oiled Internet. mb