Net Neutrality

[Schneed10]

If I find that the sites I want to use are too slow on my ISP, I'll look to switch ISPs. Here I have a choice between Verizon, Comcast, and DirecTV/AT&T.

I don't anticipate it will get so slow that I'll experience a problem, but I have recourse in the event it does.

I don't think you're necessarily wrong Matty but I'm just more concerned about other issues than this. Issues of life and livelihood rank higher on my give a shit meter.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

If I find that the sites I want to use are too slow on my ISP, I'll look to switch ISPs. Here I have a choice between Verizon, Comcast, and DirecTV/AT&T.

I don't anticipate it will get so slow that I'll experience a problem, but I have recourse in the event it does.

I don't think you're necessarily wrong Matty but I'm just more concerned about other issues than this. Issues of life and livelihood rank higher on my give a shit meter.

One of the already existing problems is many people don't have a choice. Or they do have a choice, where one provider offers them 100 down/10 ups, and the other provider offers them 10 down/1 up. And the guy offering 100/10 literally pays to keep other providers out of the area. Google Fiber can't even expand to a lot of places because Comcast/Verizon pay a lot of money to keep them out. That's what happens when you have monopolies though, they take a lot of those profits and spend them on keeping the monopoly going.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by mooby

One of the already existing problems is many people don't have a choice. Or they do have a choice, where one provider offers them 100 down/10 ups, and the other provider offers them 10 down/1 up. And the guy offering 100/10 literally pays to keep other providers out of the area. Google Fiber can't even expand to a lot of places because Comcast/Verizon pay a lot of money to keep them out. That's what happens when you have monopolies though, they take a lot of those profits and spend them on keeping the monopoly going.

For them I understand why they’d care. Still, getting the circle while trying to watch Netflix strikes me as first world problems.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by mooby

One of the already existing problems is many people don't have a choice. Or they do have a choice, where one provider offers them 100 down/10 ups, and the other provider offers them 10 down/1 up. And the guy offering 100/10 literally pays to keep other providers out of the area. Google Fiber can't even expand to a lot of places because Comcast/Verizon pay a lot of money to keep them out. That's what happens when you have monopolies though, they take a lot of those profits and spend them on keeping the monopoly going.

Then break up the monopolies and loosen the regulations around entering the market. I would be all for those options.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Then break up the monopolies and loosen the regulations around entering the market. I would be all for those options.

You sure you want the government spending a big chunk of money to defeat a monopoly? Remember, the monopoly has monopoly money. In this land where money is power, that's a big war to fight. Besides, our current FCC Commisioner seems more in favor of the "rub and tug monopoly" strategy, where he scratches their backs now and they scratch his later.

[Giantone]

I'm not sure I really understand it enough to discuss it. My cable bill is too high right now and that is going to be addressed next month,I have Comcast and have it all including a land line with them. I do my bills,banking and surf on the internet,I don't need what a Hospital needs ,I just need my internet to work.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by mooby

One of the already existing problems is many people don't have a choice. Or they do have a choice, where one provider offers them 100 down/10 ups, and the other provider offers them 10 down/1 up. And the guy offering 100/10 literally pays to keep other providers out of the area. Google Fiber can't even expand to a lot of places because Comcast/Verizon pay a lot of money to keep them out. That's what happens when you have monopolies though, they take a lot of those profits and spend them on keeping the monopoly going.

I agree 100 percent here. That's where I support government intervention, and if others have a potential to make money they will lobby against the monopoly, but if they have no potential to differentiate themselves, they simply won't try.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

I agree 100 percent here. That's where I support government intervention, and if others have a potential to make money they will lobby against the monopoly, but if they have no potential to differentiate themselves, they simply won't try.

I just don't see this administration or FCC insisting that the Comcast/Verizon monopolies be broken up. I think it would require something so egregious on the companies' part that the gov't would have no choice but to break them up.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by mooby

I just don't see this administration or FCC insisting that the Comcast/Verizon monopolies be broken up. I think it would require something so egregious on the companies' part that the gov't would have no choice but to break them up.

Isn't it more about local governments allowing consumers access? Seems like there are places that allow more ISP competition and some that allow less.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Isn't it more about local governments allowing consumers access? Seems like there are places that allow more ISP competition and some that allow less.

I know there are some places where local government is trying to offer people another alternative, but big ISP's are also trying to shut that down through lobbyists. I get what you're saying and it sounds nice, but everything I read seems like big ISP money doesn't go towards offering a better product or improving infrastructure, it's mostly spent on lobbying big and small gov't to make laws and eliminate competition.

For example, approx. 100 or so Congressmen sent the FCC a letter of support for the repeal a little while ago, and the majority of them all have varying levels of donations from big ISP to their campaigns.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/a...ess-fcc-letter