It's not a new position. The former employee was terminated due to consistent poor customer service skills.I worked in HR for about 25 years. I think it's fine to negotiate for non salary perks. Just make sure they are reasonable. Internet is a reasonable request I think.
I don't know Atl, this situation sounds like it might be a little messy. Did you know the company was being sold? The reposting, the slowdown in the hire, the ownership change....is a little scary.
HR can be pretty rushed when things are very busy, and I've seen many hiring processes go into slowdown in these organizational scenarios.
But, we have come to a point where signature approval should not be a problem.
My best guess is internal debate about the position....not you.....and that is delaying things. Even if she calls today, you might want to inquire about the position's stability under new ownership. You have every right to inquire about what you are getting into.
You said the coworker chat did not go that well. Maybe that coworker was inadvertently giving you a hint about what you were getting into there. I would review that talk for any cues you might have received.
Of course, it could just be pesky, bureaucratic HR dragging their feet. Before you sign on, try to understand what might be happening behind the scenes. Good luck!
During my interview with the hiring manager, he did ask me if I was aware of the impending sale. I wasn't, and in talking with some of their customers, apparently few people are/were aware of the sale.