All Things Net Neutrality

According to Layer 3 communications, this problem could be helped by just plugging in some more cables. Nearly no cost to either side (we're talking cents) to which Verizon isn't giving them permission. Interesting...

Oh girl, you jus' didn't: Level 3 slaps Verizon in Netflix throttle blowup • The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/18/netflix_partner_verizons_report_proves_they_thrott le_us/)

Yeah, this was brutal. Doesn't that go against the free market? We need one of two things to happen in the cable and internet markets. Either regulate the current solutions to protect consumers to guarantee certain levels of service at certain prices, or find a way to inject true competition. The problem with internet/cable providers is that most people have 1-2 legitimate options, more often than not a single option. I know in the Northern VA area the apartment/condo complexes will sign exclusivity agreements with the cable providers.

The really interesting part is look at the cable providers in areas that Google Fiber moved in. Google is able to come in and push the big boys because of deep pockets, most new internet providers don't have that ability. Every city they've moved into the current providers IMMEDIATELY offered faster/better service at a lower price. Showed they clearly have the capability, they just don't have any incentive. The United States is slowly desolving into the luddites of the 1st world. We need infrastructure, we need information, and we need to lower the barrier to entry. We're not a free market anymore, we're protecting these massive companies and their profits rather than forcing them to innovate to stay on top.

You know what, I think I might start treating myself as an ISP. I'm a government contractor. I'm going to start demanding direct payment from the government as well as my company. I think it'll go great!

Couldn't agree more. In fact when I think about it so many on the right are quick to call anything they don't like Socialism but in it's simplest form what is socialism? Basically a product or service in which people are limited to one provider.

It sucks that they refuse to see the lack of high speed competition in regards to broadband on the local level and even when they do, they count non feasible high speed options such as mobile provider hot spots with extremely low data caps, outdated DSL, and satellite internet which also comes with ridiculously low data caps not to mention terrible ping times.

I apologize if for this thread I sound like a card carrying Dem, but in regards to all things technology I've learned that Dems can at least be shamed into taking the right position. Republicans on the other hand are outright dangerous in regards to internet policy. As seen with this recent vote where they have prevented cities with currently existing fiber networks from competing with Cable providers. Which is tragically comedic to me because you would think with their confidence in the free market they would be eager to see a government service go head to head with a private company.

If you consider one of the main complaints the GOP has about Obamacare is they didn't have a say in the bill. Well guess what, we have another issue now that needs to be addressed, and yet they continue to pretend, just as they did with health care that there isn't a problem. You don't need to go all the way with Title II but they certainly shouldn't be actively working to block solutions that are in line with free market policies, ie increasing competition.

I will say this though, Comcast certainly knows when to hold them and when to fold them unlike a similar company...say Verizon?
Comcast loves the FCC’s net neutrality rules, wants limits on “fast lanes� | Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/07/comcast-loves-the-fccs-net-neutrality-rules-wants-limits-on-fast-lanes/)

I'd think twice before believing Comcast is out for anyone's best interest other than their own. ;)

I'd think twice before believing Comcast is out for anyone's best interest other than their own. ;)

Oh trust me I know that all to well. In fact if I had to rank the top 5 National ISP's (Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner, Cox, Verizon) I'd easily rank Comcast as the most evil. Officially Verizon is still 'reviewing' the initial FCC proposal unless I missed something since their initial press release (http://newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/news-articles/2014/05-15-statement-on-fcc-proposed-rules-for-open-internet/). To me it seems Verizon wants go all in on killing net neutrality while Comcast seems to be more along the lines of 'quit while you're ahead.'

In other words Comcast seems to realize that attempting to completely do away with net neutrality and hoping for the Republican Net Neutrality plan, aka 'hopefully you can afford antitrust litigation', is a fools game. By voicing their support for the FCC proposal they seemed to have realized that this is the most realistic way to turn the fast lane into a reality (read; get paid). I also imagine that it allows them to stay on regulators good side both in regards to their NBC merger and their upcoming Time Warner Merger.

Not to mention they at least get to seem like they support the open internet. Though knowing Comcast if they thought they could get away with killing both net neutrality and the open internet they wouldn't hesitate.

Verizon still f'ing up.
Verizon made an enemy: FiOS customer mad that Netflix works better on VPN | Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/07/verizon-made-an-enemy-fios-customer-mad-that-netflix-works-better-on-vpn/)
I'm on FiOS and also have to use a VPN to get acceptable streaming quality (a big pain since although my desktop is hooked up to my TV, I'd rather use the Netflix app on TV). I tried complaining to Verizon about this, and broke my usual rule about "play dumb with tech support and just let them think I'm technologically inept" and said I was using a VPN and everything...and they kept trying to upsell me to the 75/35 tier that this guy is on. When I'm already on 50/25. Because 50/25 clearly isn't enough to watch Netflix at a quality above that of a 1990s-era Quicktime video.

5vs3QhEx_3w

For those that aren't familiar with VPN's here's a quick explanation. Say we have Verizon for our home ISP and at work we have XYZ-ISP. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) we can connect to our XYZ-ISP network from home with our Verizon Internet but obviously we won't be getting nearly the speed as if we were actually at work. Anyone that's seen lag when IT remotely accesses your desktop should have an idea. 999,999,999/1,000,000,000 using a VPN to increase speeds will not work. It pretty much violates Newmans laws of psychics (http://youtu.be/0jZ-ZqOq44s?t=3m).

In other news count AT&T among the ones that know whats good for them.
With 1 million comments, U.S. net neutrality debate nears first marker | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/18/us-usa-internet-neutrality-idUSKBN0FN23720140718)
AT&T, though, said the FCC could ban paid prioritization without reclassifying ISPs. It is unclear how the approach would stand up in court. Verizon and Comcast supported the "commercially reasonable" standard.


Of course there's also this fun story.
AT&T supports a fast lane� ban as long as it contains a giant loophole | Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/07/att-supports-a-fast-lane-ban-as-long-as-it-has-a-giant-loophole/)

In support of Verizon I have created my own custom Fios logo.
Verizon: Slow Buffering Speeds Are Netflix's Fault - TIME (http://time.com/2973850/verizon-netflix-fight/)

Before:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0M7n3rIYhCM73AoCn2ZQxDUiE9_tP6YX4W4SWCbhMIc=w352-h147-p-no

After:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zjvR0MS3Ao4/U8yOxMRIiqI/AAAAAAAAA0E/GGR5O3fu20w/w338-h104-no/Finally+2.png

Don't lie down against the evil empire known as Netflix. You got to fight for your rites....yeah!

If you are willing to stand with me then please post the After image in every post throughout the forum and use Comic Sans font to show Netflix you won't let them bully helpless companies trying to make a living! Remember, use Comic Sans font (http://www.troll.me/images/x-all-the-things/comic-sans-all-the-things.jpg) to let them know we are deadly serious! (http://youtu.be/9LI8fqHXMm4?t=7s)

So , we just bought a new TV for the Mrs in her sew/knitting room ..42 in Insignia HD very nice ok my daughter bought her a Ruko box so she can get nexflicks , has anyone ever had any trouble setting that up ?My internet is, fine speed is good ,I do have Comcast .

Heh.

Comcast’s worst nightmare: How Tennessee could save America’s Internet - Salon.com (http://www.salon.com/2014/07/18/comcasts_worst_nightmare_how_tennessee_could_save_ americas_internet_partner/)

This is why you cannot say that capitalism, or the private sector, is the answer for everything. When your bottom line is profit motivated you can find yourself in a situation where what's best for your company, is what's worse for everyone else.

This is also why everyone should scoff when AT&T, Time Warner, Comcast, or anyone else suggests that these changes would hamper their ability to continue to bring high speed internet to as many people as possible.

Because if that was their interest they'd stop suing small municipalities for providing a better service for cheaper.

They just want to make more money. That's all this is about. I wish people would figure that out. They've literally decided that spending millions in lobbying and buying votes to outlaw competition would net them more money than trying to compete with them.

It'd be one thing if we had the best internet int he world, but we don't. In fact.. we're significantly worse off than other areas from a price-to-performance perspective. And when you factor in the numerous attempts to officially instate a 'Shutoff Switch', in addition to what the US Gov't is already doing, the idea that our internet access is less 'controlled' by Gov't forces than others is starting to become a fantasy..

We're paying top dollar for a lesser product. This is becoming a theme in this country...

to piggy back off that post...

Municipal Broadband Roadblocks | Broadband Now (http://broadbandnow.com/report/municipal-broadband-roadblocks/)

Lol, Comcast.

Comcast 'Embarrassed' By The Service Call Making Internet Rounds : All Tech Considered : NPR (http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/07/15/331681041/comcast-embarrassed-by-the-service-call-making-internet-rounds)
"The representative (name redacted) continued aggressively repeating his questions, despite the answers given, to the point where my wife became so visibly upset she handed me the phone. ...
"This recording picks up roughly 10 minutes into the call, whereby she and I have already played along and given a myriad of reasons and explanations as to why we are canceling (which is why I simply stopped answering the rep's repeated question — it was clear the only sufficient answer was 'Okay, please don't disconnect our service after all')."

Comcast customer service: An employee explains why they won't let you cancel your service. (http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/07/16/comcast_customer_service_an_employee_explains_why_ they_won_t_let_you_cancel.html)
When you call in to disconnect, you get routed to the Retention department; their job is to try to keep you. The guy on the phone is a Retention Specialist (which is just a Customer Account Executive who takes primarily calls from people disconnecting their service).

If I was reviewing this guy's calls I'd agree that this is an example of going a little too hard at it, but here's the deal (and this is not saying they're doing the right thing, this is just how it works). First of all these guys have a low hourly rate. In the states I've worked in they start at about 10.50-12$/hr. The actual money that they make comes from their metrics for the month, which depends on the department they're in. In sales this is obvious: the more sales you make the better you do.

In retention, the more products you save per customer the better you do, and the more products you disconnect the worst you do (if a customer with a triple play disconnects, you get hit as losing every one of those lines of business, not just losing one customer). These guys fight tooth and nail to keep every customer because if they don't meet their numbers they don't get paid.

Comcast uses "gates" for their incentive pay, which means that if you fall below a certain threshold (which tend to be stretch goals in the first place) then instead of getting a reduced amount, you get 0$. Let's say that if you retain 85% of your customers or more (this means 85% of the lines of businesses that customers have when they talk to you, they still have after they talk to you), you get 100% of your payout—which might be 5-10$ per line of business. At 80% you might only get 75% of your payout, and at 75% you get nothing.

The CAEs (customer service reps) watch these numbers daily, and will fight tooth and nail to stay above the "I get nothing" number. This guy went too far; you're not supposed to flat out argue with them. But Comcast literally provides an incentive for this kind of behavior. It's the same reason people's bills are always fucked up: people stuffing them with things they don't need or in some cases don't even agree to.