I am one of the many people waiting for renewal EAD to come. It is required for my human resource department, my driver liscence, ..... A lot of anxiety ... Here is my experience:
My current EAD will be expired in Dec 12 2010.
Submitted renewal application on April 23 to TSC.
No thing back and called USCIS on Auguest 9. was told it would be handled appropriately.
No thing back and called USCIS again on Sept 8. Was told it would be expediated.
No thing back and went to Local infopass on Oct 18. Was told I need new fingerprint and an email will be sent to uscis
Fingerprinted on Nov 2 and was told by the staff the fingerprint is not really needed but he would like to have one fingerprint taken (index finger). A photo was taken at the same time.
Back home in frustration and check status online and found card was ordered on 10/25.
Conclusion: Applying early might not help much. Calling USCIS is almost useless. Going to infopass is most effective in this case. The lady in infopass told me if I do not have anything one week before the expiration date, come in again and she will do something for me. I did not know what she would do, but she seemed very sure that she can help.