The FCC and Net Neutrality

[Chizzang]

In some areas of the country Comcast is the only service provider option...
They are the sole internet and TV provider

So... Yes they can do significant damage

All the Major remaining providers after the big buy out of independents in 2001
All colluded to move out of each others competitive markets
So by design (collusion) here is only ONE significant option per major market

and companies like Google are being legislated out of building competitive infrastructure
to provide consumers another option

I wonder how many white males this affects

All of the white males... 100%
Black people and Mexicans steal cable

[CID1990]

I wonder how many white males this affects

All of the white males... 100%
Black people and Mexicans steal cable

Well then we need some o that SCOTUS to the rescue don't we

[Chizzang]

All of the white males... 100%
Black people and Mexicans steal cable

Well then we need some o that SCOTUS to the rescue don't we

It's one of America's most fascinating developments...

The surrendering of our broadband infrastructure
from the ownership of the People
over to basically two companies / Comcast and Time Warner

And then listening to these same Americans who've paid billions in tax dollars
defend Comcast and Timer Warner as though they were naturally occurring phenomenon
As though they were hard fought products of the free market



one of the strangest f*cking things I've ever seen
Comcast would be long since out of business
were it exposed to even an iota of the free market

In fact Comcast's pet politicians write legislation on it's behalf
to prevent ANYBODY from competing with them

[Ivytalk]

The problem I have with "net neutrality" is the risk of regulating content in the guise of limiting the market power of the major players. If the Feds think they have a case against Comcast or Time Warner under the antitrust laws, they should make it.

[GannonFan]

Well then we need some o that SCOTUS to the rescue don't we

It's one of America's most fascinating developments...

The surrendering of our broadband infrastructure
from the ownership of the People
over to basically two companies / Comcast and Time Warner

And then listening to these same Americans who've paid billions in tax dollars
defend Comcast and Timer Warner as though they were naturally occurring phenomenon
As though they were hard fought products of the free market



one of the strangest f*cking things I've ever seen
Comcast would be long since out of business
were it exposed to even an iota of the free market

In fact Comcast's pet politicians write legislation on it's behalf
to prevent ANYBODY from competing with them

Stop being such a drama seeker. Of course Comcast has competition. Heck, I through out the Comcast mailer every time I get it because I already have Fios and like that a lot more. If I was younger and hipper I'd just live with my Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime and just cut the cable entirely. I can't help it that others don't and that there are sheeple who just blindly pay whatever bill comes their way. But that is the free market, warts and all, and Comcast is clearly involved in it, although they certainly wiggled themselves into a position of power - no argument there.

[Ibanez]

It's one of America's most fascinating developments...

The surrendering of our broadband infrastructure
from the ownership of the People
over to basically two companies / Comcast and Time Warner

And then listening to these same Americans who've paid billions in tax dollars
defend Comcast and Timer Warner as though they were naturally occurring phenomenon
As though they were hard fought products of the free market



one of the strangest f*cking things I've ever seen
Comcast would be long since out of business
were it exposed to even an iota of the free market

In fact Comcast's pet politicians write legislation on it's behalf
to prevent ANYBODY from competing with them

Stop being such a drama seeker. Of course Comcast has competition. Heck, I through out the Comcast mailer every time I get it because I already have Fios and like that a lot more. If I was younger and hipper I'd just live with my Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime and just cut the cable entirely. I can't help it that others don't and that there are sheeple who just blindly pay whatever bill comes their way. But that is the free market, warts and all, and Comcast is clearly involved in it, although they certainly wiggled themselves into a position of power - no argument there.

DirecTV has done a smart thing with their DirecTV Now app. It's streaming TV and if you got in early, it's $35. Where I used to pay $125 just for DirecTV and then another $50-$60 for internet. I pay approx $120 for high speed internet, Netflix, Hulu, DirecTV Now and Amazon Prime (which is about $8.99/mo). Not to mention the Kodi software where I can watch anything the day after it airs (or hours, depending on when/where it airs).

The DirecTVNOW app is still a bit clunky but the UI is good. If I could figure out how to add things to the watchlist, i'd be set but you can have favorite channels, I think there's a record function, it's all live w/ commercials and there's no contract.

[Chizzang]

It's one of America's most fascinating developments...

The surrendering of our broadband infrastructure
from the ownership of the People
over to basically two companies / Comcast and Time Warner

And then listening to these same Americans who've paid billions in tax dollars
defend Comcast and Timer Warner as though they were naturally occurring phenomenon
As though they were hard fought products of the free market



one of the strangest f*cking things I've ever seen
Comcast would be long since out of business
were it exposed to even an iota of the free market

In fact Comcast's pet politicians write legislation on it's behalf
to prevent ANYBODY from competing with them

Stop being such a drama seeker. Of course Comcast has competition. Heck, I through out the Comcast mailer every time I get it because I already have Fios and like that a lot more. If I was younger and hipper I'd just live with my Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime and just cut the cable entirely. I can't help it that others don't and that there are sheeple who just blindly pay whatever bill comes their way. But that is the free market, warts and all, and Comcast is clearly involved in it, although they certainly wiggled themselves into a position of power - no argument there.

Fios lost $2.23 billion dollars in 2015
I can't find the 2016 Fios numbers because they roll them into Verizon dollars
and they have about 15% as many TV subscribers as Comcast in vastly fewer markets

You are fortunate to be in an area where you can actually "choose"



I'm not seeking drama
Nothing I've said isn't true - you're allowed to have your opinion
You're just poorly informed which is your right

[kalm]

Stop being such a drama seeker. Of course Comcast has competition. Heck, I through out the Comcast mailer every time I get it because I already have Fios and like that a lot more. If I was younger and hipper I'd just live with my Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime and just cut the cable entirely. I can't help it that others don't and that there are sheeple who just blindly pay whatever bill comes their way. But that is the free market, warts and all, and Comcast is clearly involved in it, although they certainly wiggled themselves into a position of power - no argument there.

Fios lost $2.23 billion dollars in 2015
I can't find the 2016 Fios numbers because they roll them into Verizon dollars
and they have about 15% as many TV subscribers as Comcast in vastly fewer markets

You are fortunate to be in an area where you can actually "choose"



I'm not seeking drama
Nothing I've said isn't true - you're allowed to have your opinion
You're just poorly informed which is your right

So a few companies benefit from a massive publicly funded infrastructure build out and spend millions in lobbying and to get their people on a regulatory board, so that they can determine access including limiting access to potential competition and/or those they may politically disagree with?

Sounds like a free market to me!

[Chizzang]

Fios lost $2.23 billion dollars in 2015
I can't find the 2016 Fios numbers because they roll them into Verizon dollars
and they have about 15% as many TV subscribers as Comcast in vastly fewer markets

You are fortunate to be in an area where you can actually "choose"



I'm not seeking drama
Nothing I've said isn't true - you're allowed to have your opinion
You're just poorly informed which is your right

So a few companies benefit from a massive publicly funded infrastructure build out and spend millions in lobbying and to get their people on a regulatory board, so that they can determine access including limiting access to potential competition and/or those they may politically disagree with?

Sounds like a free market to me!

They hand pick markets for assorted "competition" this appeases the judicial branch in regards to monopoly
and they eliminate serious competitive threats through legislation



It's been a text book extortion of the American people
and still we have those who defend them

[YoUDeeMan]

So a few companies benefit from a massive publicly funded infrastructure build out and spend millions in lobbying and to get their people on a regulatory board, so that they can determine access including limiting access to potential competition and/or those they may politically disagree with?

Sounds like a free market to me!

They hand pick markets for assorted "competition" this appeases the judicial branch in regards to monopoly
and they eliminate serious competitive threats through legislation



It's been a text book extortion of the American people
and still we have those who defend them

Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring.

And it still doesn't impact me as a consumer or an individual.

Must be a west Coast problem.

[Chizzang]

They hand pick markets for assorted "competition" this appeases the judicial branch in regards to monopoly
and they eliminate serious competitive threats through legislation



It's been a text book extortion of the American people
and still we have those who defend them

Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring.

And it still doesn't impact me as a consumer or an individual.

Must be a west Coast problem.

It's not a problem... It's our system
As I'm sure you can image I don't give them my business

[GannonFan]

Stop being such a drama seeker. Of course Comcast has competition. Heck, I through out the Comcast mailer every time I get it because I already have Fios and like that a lot more. If I was younger and hipper I'd just live with my Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime and just cut the cable entirely. I can't help it that others don't and that there are sheeple who just blindly pay whatever bill comes their way. But that is the free market, warts and all, and Comcast is clearly involved in it, although they certainly wiggled themselves into a position of power - no argument there.

Fios lost $2.23 billion dollars in 2015
I can't find the 2016 Fios numbers because they roll them into Verizon dollars
and they have about 15% as many TV subscribers as Comcast in vastly fewer markets

You are fortunate to be in an area where you can actually "choose"



I'm not seeking drama
Nothing I've said isn't true - you're allowed to have your opinion
You're just poorly informed which is your right

Where in this country is it mandated that people buy the services that Comcast offers? Maybe we should start there since that's where you're hang up is. So please provide links then on where in the USA are consumers not only required to buy Comcast, but also where there is not a single other provider (so no Fios, no Direct TV, no Time Warner, no ability to simply "cut the cord" and get over the air digital signals and stream whatever else)?

No one is arguing that Comcast didn't get a sweet deal from the government, what we are arguing over is why it worked, and it has worked because people don't take advantage of what's out there, which is plenty. Yes, it is a free market, but free markets tend not to be efficient enough when the consumers in the free market act more like sheep rather than interested consumers.

[Chizzang]

Where in this country is it mandated that people buy the services that Comcast offers? Maybe we should start there since that's where you're hang up is. So please provide links then on where in the USA are consumers not only required to buy Comcast, but also where there is not a single other provider (so no Fios, no Direct TV, no Time Warner, no ability to simply "cut the cord" and get over the air digital signals and stream whatever else)?

No one is arguing that Comcast didn't get a sweet deal from the government, what we are arguing over is why it worked, and it has worked because people don't take advantage of what's out there, which is plenty. Yes, it is a free market, but free markets tend not to be efficient enough when the consumers in the free market act more like sheep rather than interested consumers.

That's an entire paragraph of irrelevant statements...
and adorably cute denials of market conditions
Your entire argument is based on "Well don't then"

Like trying to have a conversation about Dodd-Frank
and the only response is "You don't like Dodd-Frank then don't buy a house"
That's not actually a discussion about Dodd-Frank

Nobody has to have anything or do anything
and I never said anybody HAD TO do anything

Lets just stick to the facts
and skip over your drama filled defense of your imaginary free market

I understand how you feel
If you don't like Comcast or Time Warner don't subscribe to their services

Obviously I agree with that statement
But it's still not relevant to the conversation

[GannonFan]

Where in this country is it mandated that people buy the services that Comcast offers? Maybe we should start there since that's where you're hang up is. So please provide links then on where in the USA are consumers not only required to buy Comcast, but also where there is not a single other provider (so no Fios, no Direct TV, no Time Warner, no ability to simply "cut the cord" and get over the air digital signals and stream whatever else)?

No one is arguing that Comcast didn't get a sweet deal from the government, what we are arguing over is why it worked, and it has worked because people don't take advantage of what's out there, which is plenty. Yes, it is a free market, but free markets tend not to be efficient enough when the consumers in the free market act more like sheep rather than interested consumers.

That's an entire paragraph of irrelevant statements...
and adorably cute denials of market conditions
Your entire argument is based on "Well don't then"

Like trying to have a conversation about Dodd-Frank
and the only response is "You don't like Dodd-Frank then don't buy a house"
That's not actually a discussion about Dodd-Frank

Nobody has to have anything or do anything
and I never said anybody HAD TO do anything

Lets just stick to the facts
and skip over your drama filled defense of your imaginary free market

I understand how you feel
If you don't like Comcast or Time Warner don't subscribe to their services

Obviously I agree with that statement
But it's still not relevant to the conversation

Then what is your point? You said, and I quote, "You are fortunate to be in an area where you can actually "choose" ". The implication, and please tell us if the implication is wrong, is that there are people who live in areas where they cannot choose - it's Comcast or nothing. Did you misspeak and really mean something else? Feel free to change your statement then. You also said "...they eliminate serious competitive threats through legislation..." with they being Comcast in this case.

Comcast got a sweet deal, no doubt. Comcast is getting to make money off of things built with taxpayer money, no doubt. We agree those things are not ideal. Where you run off the rails is when you then say that Comcast, going forward, has a deal that pretty much eliminates competitive threats. They have plenty of competition and get more every day. There's a free market when it comes to competition being allowed. But free markets don't work perfectly when consumers fail to make intelligent choices. No one is forced to buy Comcast. If you want delivered television programming there are a multitude of other ways to get it, and often at much cheaper rates than Comcast provides. If consumers don't want it or don't want to switch, I'm not blaming Comcast.

[Chizzang]

Gannon,
I have no idea what you do but you really should be a lawyer
Only a f*cking lawyer could see the world such as you do

[Ivytalk]

Gannon,
I have no idea what you do but you really should be a lawyer
Only a f*cking lawyer could see the world such as you do

Hey, I'm the f*cking (retired) lawyer around here. Get with the program!

Ganny is more of a frustrated would-be history professor.

[kalm]

Gannon,
I have no idea what you do but you really should be a lawyer
Only a f*cking lawyer could see the world such as you do

Hey, I'm the f*cking (retired) lawyer around here. Get with the program!

Ganny is more of a frustrated would-be history professor.

I think it's even worse than that. I believe Ganny is an engineer...

[Ibanez]

Well then we need some o that SCOTUS to the rescue don't we

It's one of America's most fascinating developments...

The surrendering of our broadband infrastructure
from the ownership of the People
over to basically two companies / Comcast and Time Warner

And then listening to these same Americans who've paid billions in tax dollars
defend Comcast and Timer Warner as though they were naturally occurring phenomenon
As though they were hard fought products of the free market



one of the strangest f*cking things I've ever seen
Comcast would be long since out of business
were it exposed to even an iota of the free market

In fact Comcast's pet politicians write legislation on it's behalf
to prevent ANYBODY from competing with them

There are small pockets of resistance.

When I moved to Fort Mill last year, I learned something interesting - you can get DirecTV or Dish but if you want Internet and/or cable, there's 1 company - locally owned Comporium. Comcast isn't in the area. Neither is Time Warner, which sucked b/c I had TW in Charleston and loved it. There might be pockets of Fort Mill and Rock Hill where Comcast and TW have gotten in, but in many parts you have 1 option - the expensive and terrible customer service of Comporium. Owned and operated by the White family, the same family that settled and founded the towns of Rock Hill and Fort Mill.

[GannonFan]

Hey, I'm the f*cking (retired) lawyer around here. Get with the program!

Ganny is more of a frustrated would-be history professor.

I think it's even worse than that. I believe Ganny is an engineer...

I would still love to be a history professor - if there was money in that I would've done that gig in a heartbeat. Never wanted to be a lawyer, but for a time I had considered going to law school in order to be a patent examiner or patent lawyer. Took the LSAT and everything before I decided I couldn't afford it. Maybe when I retire I'll see if I can teach history at a local community college - apparently kids aren't getting much of a history education as evidenced by such brutal recollections of history as we see around here.

[Chizzang]

"Comcast asks the FCC to prohibit states from enforcing net neutrality"

Oh look, Comcast shows their true colors...
What will the Republicans do with this "States Rights" Issue..?


https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201 ... eutrality/

[CID1990]

"Comcast asks the FCC to prohibit states from enforcing net neutrality"

Oh look, Comcast shows their true colors...
What will the Republicans do with this "States Rights" Issue..?


https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201 ... eutrality/

I don't have a problem with it

There shouldn't be controls on who puts what on the internet

Oh and I can play World of Warcraft with no lag, so yay Comcast!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chizzang]

"Comcast asks the FCC to prohibit states from enforcing net neutrality"

Oh look, Comcast shows their true colors...
What will the Republicans do with this "States Rights" Issue..?


https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201 ... eutrality/

I don't have a problem with it

There shouldn't be controls on who puts what on the internet

Oh and I can play World of Warcraft with no lag, so yay Comcast!

You're completely missing the point...
Comcast can now restrict access and restrict bandwidth as they so choose

We're selecting a Private for profit Wall Street Company to run a public utility
and restrict competition and restrict free market



It would be like putting Delta Airlines in charge of all US air travel
Allowing them to restrict air travel of their competition as they see fit

This is America now
Thank you

[Ibanez]

Stop being such a drama seeker. Of course Comcast has competition. Heck, I through out the Comcast mailer every time I get it because I already have Fios and like that a lot more. If I was younger and hipper I'd just live with my Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime and just cut the cable entirely. I can't help it that others don't and that there are sheeple who just blindly pay whatever bill comes their way. But that is the free market, warts and all, and Comcast is clearly involved in it, although they certainly wiggled themselves into a position of power - no argument there.

DirecTV has done a smart thing with their DirecTV Now app. It's streaming TV and if you got in early, it's $35. Where I used to pay $125 just for DirecTV and then another $50-$60 for internet. I pay approx $120 for high speed internet, Netflix, Hulu, DirecTV Now and Amazon Prime (which is about $8.99/mo). Not to mention the Kodi software where I can watch anything the day after it airs (or hours, depending on when/where it airs).

The DirecTVNOW app is still a bit clunky but the UI is good. If I could figure out how to add things to the watchlist, i'd be set but you can have favorite channels, I think there's a record function, it's all live w/ commercials and there's no contract.

Finally figure out the Watch list feature last month.

[UNI88]

That's an entire paragraph of irrelevant statements...
and adorably cute denials of market conditions
Your entire argument is based on "Well don't then"

Like trying to have a conversation about Dodd-Frank
and the only response is "You don't like Dodd-Frank then don't buy a house"
That's not actually a discussion about Dodd-Frank

Nobody has to have anything or do anything
and I never said anybody HAD TO do anything

Lets just stick to the facts
and skip over your drama filled defense of your imaginary free market

I understand how you feel
If you don't like Comcast or Time Warner don't subscribe to their services

Obviously I agree with that statement
But it's still not relevant to the conversation

Then what is your point? You said, and I quote, "You are fortunate to be in an area where you can actually "choose" ". The implication, and please tell us if the implication is wrong, is that there are people who live in areas where they cannot choose - it's Comcast or nothing. Did you misspeak and really mean something else? Feel free to change your statement then. You also said "...they eliminate serious competitive threats through legislation..." with they being Comcast in this case.

Comcast got a sweet deal, no doubt. Comcast is getting to make money off of things built with taxpayer money, no doubt. We agree those things are not ideal. Where you run off the rails is when you then say that Comcast, going forward, has a deal that pretty much eliminates competitive threats. They have plenty of competition and get more every day. There's a free market when it comes to competition being allowed. But free markets don't work perfectly when consumers fail to make intelligent choices. No one is forced to buy Comcast. If you want delivered television programming there are a multitude of other ways to get it, and often at much cheaper rates than Comcast provides. If consumers don't want it or don't want to switch, I'm not blaming Comcast.

Ganny your problem is that you're thinking of Comcast as a cable company when they're more than that. I was a Comcast customer until I cut the cable cord but for ISPs my choices were Comcast and AT&T. AT&Ts bandwidth wasn't good enough to stream so I'm stuck with Comcast.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[CID1990]

I don't have a problem with it

There shouldn't be controls on who puts what on the internet

Oh and I can play World of Warcraft with no lag, so yay Comcast!

You're completely missing the point...
Comcast can now restrict access and restrict bandwidth as they so choose

We're selecting a Private for profit Wall Street Company to run a public utility
and restrict competition and restrict free market



It would be like putting Delta Airlines in charge of all US air travel
Allowing them to restrict air travel of their competition as they see fit

This is America now
Thank you

I think Comcast provides a valuable public service