PPCGeeks - HTC Rom Update

Ok I am a totall newbie. Have been on the phone with Alltel a total of 10 hours. All I want to do is upgrade last years ROM on my phone to this years ROM. HTC Took down the Alltel Rom for a reason unbenounced to me. And as I am typing this Alltel rep on the phone is pissing me off. He keeps asking me to keep turn the phone on and off as if that is a fix all to all every cellular phone issue. The only Rom available for the HTC Touch is the Sprint ROM. Please help me update my phone so that it will Tether to the internet. Because its not working and Alltel says I need to update my ROM in order to get it to work. My ROM version is 1.16 with a Radio version of 2.26. Any help other than "Hey dude search the forums" would be appreciated.