All Things Net Neutrality

and they wonder why they continually have among the worst customer satisfaction and support reviews in the country.

they were forced to try to rebrand their services because of it...

In 2004 and 2007, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey found that Comcast had the worst customer satisfaction rating of any company or government agency in the country, including the Internal Revenue Service.
Comcast - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast#Criticism_and_controversy)

And this isn't an old issue either... just 3 months ago...

Congratulations To Comcast, Your 2014 Worst Company In America! – Consumerist (http://consumerist.com/2014/04/08/congratulations-to-comcast-your-2014-worst-company-in-america/)

and they wonder why they continually have among the worst customer satisfaction and support reviews in the country.

they were forced to try to rebrand their services because of it...


Comcast - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast#Criticism_and_controversy)

And this isn't an old issue either... just 3 months ago...

Congratulations To Comcast, Your 2014 Worst Company In America! – Consumerist (http://consumerist.com/2014/04/08/congratulations-to-comcast-your-2014-worst-company-in-america/)

You want irony?

Exclusive - Comcast nears deal to stream EA games to TVs: sources | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/02/us-comcast-gaming-exclusive-idUSBREA410V920140502)

Last 5 Consumerist Worst Company in America Winners

2010 - Comcast
2011 - BP (Comcast 'won' third place)
2012 - EA
2013 - EA
2014 - Comcast

Another fun fact about 2011 for Comcast
Comcast Begs Employees To Vote For Charter In Worst Company In America Poll – Consumerist (http://consumerist.com/2011/03/23/comcast-begs-employees-to-vote-for-charter-in-worst-company-in-america-poll/)

We're ragging on comcast pretty hard, but as someone with lots of experience with many telecoms and ISPs... they're not alone. They may be the worst, but not by much.

AT&T, Time Warner, Verizon, Comcast... they're all an awful mess to deal with and the problems are almost exclusive related to their business models and the lack of competition in the field.

They treat their techs like crap - often making them contractors so they can easily dump them without ramifications when business is slow and make quick hires to fill needs when business picks up. This creates a system of extremes where you have a few good, qualified techs that have been there a while and only stick around because they have enough seniority to weather the cyclical layoffs, but otherwise they are staffed by inexperienced/low quality workers because after 6 months on the job most say screw this and go find a better gig. At least the good ones do.

The number of migrations I've done where it takes 3-6 months to get a new line/service to a business simply because the ISP drops the ball in terms of communication and following through on their end is absurd. They can get away with it because they *all* do it.

It's a complete mess. If you were to start a company that was oriented around speedy and high quality customer service with reliable and fast connections to the internet you'd quickly dominate the market.

But try starting an ISP and let me know how it goes :)

How to Yell at the FCC About How Much You Hate Its Net Neutrality Rules (http://gizmodo.com/how-to-yell-at-the-fcc-about-how-much-you-hate-its-net-1576943170)

dont know if this has been posted

How to Yell at the FCC About How Much You Hate Its Net Neutrality Rules (http://gizmodo.com/how-to-yell-at-the-fcc-about-how-much-you-hate-its-net-1576943170)

dont know if this has been posted

I'm not totally sure if its valid anymore. As far as I know the comments are technically suppose to be closed, however in looking at the FCC website issue 14-28 is still on the books with a link to file comments so if anyone still hasn't filed might as well try.

Of course you can still comment on the upcoming Comcast-Time Warner merger :devil:

Sadly I don't think the comments themselves matter so much as the final number. The FCC Comment counter might as well serve as a petition.


But try starting an ISP and let me know how it goes :)

Day 1 - Started my new ISP. Real excited.

Day 2 - Dealing with local gov for necessary permits for approval.

Day 45 - Still Waiting for approval. Still only eating ramen.

Day 340 - Finally got approval. Getting ready to put fiber in the ground

Day 341 - Got served with notices from Comcast. No idea what lawsuit is about in spite of having read through it 34 times already. Local gov temporarily revoked my permits. Said they had to look into something first.

Day 345 - Local city council member accused me of eating puppies and kittens in spite of the fact that these days I can only afford Ramen noodles. Claims we need ethical companies like Comcast to provide internet, not heathens such as myself. I was also referred to as a socialist and a job killer.

Day 360 - Local newspaper somehow obtained picture of me passed out in college with genitals drawn onto my face with permanent marker. Headline read 'Junkie tries to start ISP in hopes of collecting peoples personal information.' How did anyone get a picture of me from 1976?

Day 688 - My lawyer asked for an extension regarding the Comcast lawsuit. After the judge dismissed us he winked at the Comcast lawyer and seemed to mouth the words 'Free HBO'. Not sure what to think of that. I've been to the courthouse so many times the security people that pat me down know my first, middle, and last name.

Day 700 - Police came to my door last night. Told me I needed to come with them and that they had a warrant for my arrest. Officers were kind enough to let me grab my diary so I could write about the experience. Was brought to a prison featuring a giant Comcast logo out front. No idea whats going on at this point.

Day 701 - My cell mates name is Scott. Apparently he was placed here a while after trying to install his own T1 connection. Nice guy. Still don't know why I'm here though. Haven't even gotten my phone call.

Day 735 - Up to this point I haven't seen my lawyer or a judge for that matter. The guards have us pass time during the day by watching Hulu. Of course the connection is so bad we have to refresh most of the time meaning we pretty much just watch ads all day. Guards don't even let us pick the ad we want to watch.

Day 741 - Before lights out a nurse came around to all the cells to give us vacations. I got my tetanus shot last year but apparently I needed another dose because of a newly discovered super tetanus.

Day 742 - I heard a whistle blower who tried to escape from Comcast was shot last night. My entire body feels burning and itchy at night. When I was scratching the swelling on my arms, a lump of rotten flesh dropped off. What the hell is happening to me?

Day 848 - Fever gone but itchy. Hungry and eat doggy food. Itchy Itchy Scott came. Ugly face so killed him. Tasty.

Day 850 - 4 Itchy Tasty (http://residentevil.wikia.com/Keeper's_Diary)

You think Cable Companies still wonder why people don't trust them?

Cable companies say we’ve got it wrong on net neutrality: Google could be the real villain | 9to5Google (http://9to5google.com/2014/07/28/cable-companies-say-weve-got-it-wrong-on-net-neutrality-google-could-be-the-real-villain/)

TWC hilariously claims Google and Netflix are the real threats to net neutrality (https://bgr.com/2014/07/28/twc-vs-google-netflix)

Also FYI:
Now you can tell the FCC to overturn state limits on municipal broadband | Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/07/now-you-can-tell-the-fcc-to-overturn-state-limits-on-municipal-broadband/)
The FCC opened two proceedings, one for North Carolina and one for Tennessee. Initial comments will be accepted until August 29, and reply comments will be accepted until September 29.

These two proceedings will serve as test cases. Wheeler points to the FCC's authority to promote competition in local telecommunications markets by removing barriers that prevent investment, saying that this allows the commission to preempt state laws that prevent private ISPs from having to compete against municipalities. But he's already getting pushback from House Republicans, who voted to prevent the FCC from preempting state broadband laws. That vote may not become law given that the Senate is controlled by Democrats, but the FCC could also face a lawsuit if it grants the Tennessee or North Carolina petitions.

$12 A Month For Facebook – Sprint Tramples Over Net Neutrality With New Prepaid Plan | Droid Life (http://www.droid-life.com/2014/07/30/12-a-month-for-facebook-sprint-tramples-over-net-neutrality-with-new-prepaid-plan/)
The new plan embodies the anti-net neutrality schemes advocates have been warning about for years. Instead of allowing data to flow unimpeded, Virgin Mobile Custom very clearly discriminates against a huge number of apps, ultimately segregating them to more expensive data plans. If Sprint’s goal, as Mr. Draper implies, is to provide the Internet at palatable prices for poorer consumers, perhaps lower-cost (the cheapest data package Virgin is offering starts at $8 a month) capped but unrestricted access with an option to pay for more might be more appropriate . Heck, T-Mobile does it free for tablets – why can’t Sprint do the same for prepaid phones?

For the record this is what people were saying was possible without Net Neutrality:
http://www.leftypop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/net-neutrality.jpg

And this is what Sprint is doing:
The Virgin Mobile Custom plan, sold under Sprint’s Virgin Mobile brand, provides unlimited access to one of four social media services – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest – on top of your data plan for $12 a month. An additional $10 will net unlimited use of all four, while $5 more grants unlimited streaming from any one music app. The base plan also includes 20 minutes of talk time and 20 texts, both of which can be upgraded. Lines start at $6.98 a month, $5 extra for “unlimited” access. Plans can be adjusted on the fly, even daily if so desired.

Of course given the involvement of Vigin Mobile I guess we shouldn't be too surprised
Virgin Media CEO Says Net Neutrality Is A "Load of Bollocks" (https://torrentfreak.com/virgin-media-ceo-says-net-neutrality-is-a-load-of-bollocks-080413)
The new CEO of Virgin Media is putting his cards on the table early, branding net neutrality "a load of bollocks" and claiming he's already doing deals to deliver some people's content faster than others. If you aren't prepared to cough up the extra cash, he says he'll put you in the Internet "bus lane".

Also look who finally decided to join the fight. Only took him what, 7 months to actually say something?
Reid Vows to Defend Net Neutrality From Republican Attacks - NationalJournal.com (http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/reid-vows-to-defend-net-neutrality-from-republican-attacks-20140730)

Eh, I disagree.

The fear of packaged services being provided is about throttling or outright denying access to services unless you pay some arbitrary fee to the person you receive internet access from.

This isn't about blocking or altering the speed, it's about whether the data used for those services counts towards you data usage that is capped. If majority of your usage is over services like that, and they're now unlimited, you can lower (theoretically) your data package. I almost wonder if there's a problem with wifi usage dropping demand for higher data plans?

T-Mobile is doing the same thing with music services. They're just not adding a fee for it, they're using it as a promotion to encourage you to switch to their service.

@tshile
In regards to Sprint I'm more concerned with a provider essentially picking winners and losers on their own network. Not to mention the involvement of Virgin Media with their CEO outright declaring that he will put companies that don't pay up in the bus lane to be outright disturbing. You are right though in they're not blocking anything yet and in the big scheme of things not blocking or throttling sites and services is priority one which Sprint isn't doing at this time. Plus the plan is optional. However to me it represents a sign that ISP's really want to be able to turn the internet into Cable TV.

I'm starting to like Wheeler

FCC Chair Blasts Verizon For Plan To Throttle Some Users 07/30/2014 (http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/231119/fcc-chair-blasts-verizon-for-plan-to-throttle-some.html)
“'Reasonable network management' concerns the technical management of your network; it is not a loophole designed to enhance your revenue streams,” Wheeler tells Verizon. “I know of no past Commission statement that would treat as 'reasonable network management' a decision to slow traffic to a user who has paid, after all, for 'unlimited' service.”


FCC Chair Now Has Two Chances To Overturn Bans On Municipal Broadband – Consumerist (http://consumerist.com/2014/07/25/fcc-chair-now-has-two-chances-to-overturn-bans-on-municipal-broadband/)
First up is Tennessee, where state law says that a city-owned electric utility may provide telecom services, but that it must go through a bureaucratic maze of disclosures, hearings, voting, and other requirements that a private telecom provider would not have to endure. Additionally, telecom services — including broadband and pay-TV — may only be offered to those within that utility’s electric service area.

The second petition filed this week comes from North Carolina, where a 2011 Time Warner Cable-backed bill put new restrictions on cities wanting to offer broadband service.

This story is easily among the most disgusting one's I've come across so far. Basically telecom companies are buying the support of civil rights groups.
Why Is The NAACP Siding With Verizon Over Net Neutrality? (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/net-neutrality-naacp-verizon_n_5630074.html)
More than 40 civil rights groups are supporting broadband providers that oppose strict net neutrality rules. The civil rights groups say they're siding with the Internet giants because it's in the best interest of minority communities.

Yet critics say many of those groups are against stronger net neutrality rules because they've received substantial funding from Internet providers. Many of the civil rights groups currently siding with the broadband giants also supported the controversial Comcast-NBC Universal merger, came out in favor of AT&T's failed takeover of T-Mobile in 2011, and supported broadband providers the last time the Federal Communications Commission ruled on net neutrality back in 2010.

In other news the prospect of Republicans possibly winning the Senate is outright terrifying. If that happens the only thing standing between the open internet and the worse case scenario will be the presidents ability to veto anything that would essentially give ISP's the freedom to do whatever the hell they want.

Heck Comcast would essentially become a good guy until 2018 because they would be the only ones legally bound by net neutrality. Of course in the short term Verizon is easily the most evil of all the ISP's in play.
Democrats troubled by Verizon's free speech argument in net-neutrality case | TheHill (http://thehill.com/policy/technology/268561-democrats-troubled-by-verizons-free-speech-argument-in-net-neutrality-case)
In its lawsuit, Verizon claimed that it has a First Amendment right to decide what traffic to carry on its network just as a newspaper editor chooses what articles to publish.

The company said the net-neutrality rules "strip providers of control over which speech they transmit and how they transmit it, and they compel the carriage of others’ speech."

Yeah, it's a very, very thin line...

I just see the marketing appeal of "facebook and pandora no longer count towards your cap!" but they're doing in a weird way... T-Mobile's 'set your music free' campaign, which was essentially the same thing for music services except it didn't require an additional fee, went much better than this one.

hard to tell whether it's the start of the proverbial slippery slope, or just a poorly timed and articulated marketing campaign.

what irritates me is the number of 'tech blogs' misrepresenting what sprint's doing... in my opinion they're pouring gasoline on the wrong fire :\