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The Internet is ****ed (But we can fix it)

Zyphlin

Zyphlin

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Wonderful article from over on the Verge that absolutely hits the nail on the head in terms of the problem with internet and broadband providers.

Source link is HERE. Now for some excerpts.

Massive companies like AT&T and Comcast have spent the first two months of 2014 boldly announcing plans to close and control the internet through additional fees, pay-to-play schemes, and sheer brutal size — all while the legal rules designed to protect against these kinds of abuses were struck down in court for basically making too much sense. “Broadband providers represent a threat to internet openness,” concluded Judge David Tatel in Verizon’s case against the FCC’s Open Internet order, adding that the FCC had provided ample evidence of internet companies abusing their market power and had made “a rational connection between the facts found and the choices made.” Verizon argued strenuously, but had offered the court “no persuasive reason to question that judgement.”

Then Tatel cut the FCC off at the knees for making “a rather half-hearted argument” in support of its authority to properly police these threats and vacated the rules protecting the open internet
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In the meantime, the companies that control the internet have continued down a dark path, free of any oversight or meaningful competition to check their behavior. In January, AT&T announced a new “sponsored data” plan that would dramatically alter the fierce one-click-away competition that’s thus far characterized the internet. Earlier this month, Comcast announced plans to merge with Time Warner Cable, creating an internet service behemoth that will serve 40 percent of Americans in 19 of the 20 biggest markets with virtually no rivals.
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And the power of the new network-industrial complex is immense and unchecked, even by other giants: AT&T blocked Apple’s FaceTime and Google’s Hangouts video chat services for the preposterously silly reason that the apps were "preloaded" on each company’s phones instead of downloaded from an app store. Verizon and AT&T have each blocked the Google Wallet mobile payment system because they’re partners in the competing (and not very good) ISIS service. Comcast customers who stream video on their Xboxes using Microsoft’s services get charged against their data caps, but the Comcast service is tax-free.

We’re really, really ****ing this up.

But we can fix it, I swear. We just have to start telling each other the truth. Not the doublespeak bull**** of regulators and lobbyists, but the actual truth. Once we have the truth, we have the power — the power to demand better not only from our government, but from the companies that serve us as well. "This is a political fight," says Craig Aaron, president of the advocacy group Free Press. "When the internet speaks with a unified voice politicians rip their hair out."

We can do it. Let’s start.

Go ahead, say it out loud. The internet is a utility.
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Go check out the entire article, it's a great read and it's spot on. As we enter into the mid point of the 10's we need to accept the reality that at this point broadband access is more akin to phone service then it is cable TV. We need to understand that a mix of government regulation, government subsidies, and ineffectual government oversight has led to a situation where we have giant near monopolies controlling the industry and stifling competition. We do not have a "free market" but rather a tightly manipulated and manufactured one. Either the government needs to do it's job by peeling back regulation and busting up monopolies that are attempting OR it needs to do it's job of regulating the mess it helped create in a way that benefits the public at large rather than protecting the power of a few monopolistic corporations.
 
My internet works.
 
Zyphlin said:
more akin to phone service then it is cable TV
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That shouldn't matter. There are antitrust laws and they should apply, shouldn't matter what market you're in. The only defense should be a 'natural monopoly' and there's no reason to suspect that is the case here.

The article that you're quoting I think misses the point. The internet is not a "utility" company, utilities are regulated on the basic premise that they are natural monopolies, by saying they're an utility you're saying they can engage in anti-competititve behavior.

So, when Comcast buys Time Warner. Stop it.....break it up, the antitrust laws exist for a reason.
 
Jetboogieman said:
Yeah... but Kenya download movies?
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I've been back in the states for over a year. And yes, they have internet in Kenya. Not so high speed, but even in the villages.
 
ecofarm said:
Well that's depressing.
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I know what the heck am I supposed to do now? I cant post anything on DP or play mindless games or anything. I may have to go outside and talk to people. UGHHHH!
 
Quag said:
I know what the heck am I supposed to do now? I cant post anything on DP or play mindless games or anything. I may have to go outside and talk to people. UGHHHH!
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They'll be the same.
 
Does the U.S. not have an agency like our CRTC that could strike down the deal between Comcast and Time Warner or propose legislation to fix these problems based on feedback?
 
Yay for the end of net neutrality.

Time for a newer, pay per click Internet that is sanitized to protect you from alternatives to the party line.
 
It's gotten to the point where I am willing to use "ancient" technology, because even though our capabilities are so much greater with both hardware and software, our current infrastructure is choosing to bottleneck itself, harming us in the process. Hail the coming of the digital Ned Luddite.
 
Gipper said:
Don't go to the store at the corner. Cost me a buck. Egypt me.
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Yeah, his prices on Chile are insane. But what's doing with Turkey is revolutionary.
 
We will all look back and realize net neutrality was the greqtest cause worth fighting for during these times.

Fools who acquiesce that their "internet works" will soon scratch their head when some websites suddenly don't work.
 
newpublius said:
That shouldn't matter. There are antitrust laws and they should apply, shouldn't matter what market you're in. The only defense should be a 'natural monopoly' and there's no reason to suspect that is the case here.

The article that you're quoting I think misses the point. The internet is not a "utility" company, utilities are regulated on the basic premise that they are natural monopolies, by saying they're an utility you're saying they can engage in anti-competititve behavior.

So, when Comcast buys Time Warner. Stop it.....break it up, the antitrust laws exist for a reason.
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Given the physical and financial barriers to entry, cable service absolutely is a natural monopoly.
 
Deuce said:
Given the physical and financial barriers to entry, cable service absolutely is a natural monopoly.
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Well then you should have no problem with Comcast buying Time Warner. I would suggest its an oligarchic strucutre that is getting increasingly less competitive and as a result we see less competitive pricing. If the concept of a natural monopoly exists, then by all means, grant it, but then regulate the price like you would any other monopolist.
 
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