Try to send email from my Fido in wee hours of morning.

Failed.  Checked that "grps.fido.ca" is still the valid outgoing smtp
server and it is according to
http://www.fido.ca/portal/en/support/internet.shtml#six

It just isn't reponding. Interestingly, the handset doesn't report lack of
connection, nor times out. Just keeps saying "Connecting".

So, I call the fido 888 number, press 0 to speak to a rep, am told their
offices are closed and given opportunity to press 1 to report network problems.

Lady answers. "What's the emergency".  I ask if there are known problesm
with the gprs.fido.ca server because I cannot send emails.

Answer: "You have to wait until 08:00 when our offices open".

I tried to convince her that this was a network problem but she was not
interested at all in even taking note of it, stating that they don't do any
of this when offices are closed.

In the past, the overnight crew were interested and aware of gprs issues.
(for instance, they would be aware if parts were down due to maintenance,
or at least spend a few seconds checking on their computer for reports of
outages). This lady spent more time repeating that she couldn't do this and
I had to wait until 08:00 than it would have taken to check if it was a
known problem on her computer. Perhaps she didn't want to interrupt her
game of solitaire.

Perhaps the night crew should be told that they are reached to report
network problems, there aren't reached for emergencies (the recorded
messagh tells us to call 911 for emergencies).