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Originally Posted by Daseal
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!
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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they do, they count non feasible high speed options such as mobile provider hot spots with extremely low data caps, outdated DSL, and satellite internet which also comes with ridiculously low data caps not to mention terrible ping times.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