4G/3G/1X Data connection issues!

[plethora22]

So the situation is this.  I live in Providence, RI which is an area that should be getting or possibly has just recently gotten connected to the 4G grid.  About a week ago I started having severe issues with my data connection possibly related to this.

Basically, I woke up one morning and found my phone was now connected via 4G, great, I thought.  But its an extremely sub-par connection to put it mildly.  My phone has been constantly bouncing back and fourth between 3G, 4G, and the agonizingly slow 1X connection.  Prior to a week ago, I had a very reliable 3G connection pretty much everywhere I went around my home and office, now I am often connected via 1X and it often takes 2 or 3 minutes of trying to connect to anything at all.

Any pointers?  Is it possible this is a transition period of some sort with 4G just becoming available?