Story

Obama speaks out on Network Neutrality

Preview

Utility (Score: 1)

by zenbi@pipedot.org on 2014-11-11 21:10 (#2TZY)

Treating Internet providers as a utility like the electric company and the water company seems enviable inevitable.

Edit: I'm going to blame auto-correct and my tiny phone screen for that typo and not on my hastiness or crappy spelling.

Re: Utility (Score: 1)

by moveonover@pipedot.org on 2014-11-11 22:04 (#2V04)

I'm not sure what you mean by "enviable" in this context, but having broadband providers treated like utilities sounds awful! How often do protected monopolies result in innovation, lower prices, or good customer service?Please see http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/10/swiss_neutrality_code/ for a good article making some interesting points.

Re: Utility (Score: 2, Informative)

by tqk@pipedot.org on 2014-11-13 17:13 (#2V21)

"How often do protected monopolies result in innovation, lower prices, or good customer service?"

It's certainly not working so far. You do realize that most of North America is currently "served" by essentially protected monopolies and duopolies, yes? It's hardly a free market. The telcos have bought politicians who write laws in their favour, they've divvied up the market between each other and only barely (if at all) bother to compete. Europeans get far better at a much lower price, and they have real competition between providers.

Google's shown them what's not only possible but what's achievable with their Gb fibre experiments. Only then do the telcos feel threatened enough to say they'll match it.

It's a "regulatory captured" market. The head of the agency that's supposed police the industry to protect consumers is a former telco lobbyist.

Re: Utility (Score: 1)

by moveonover@pipedot.org on 2014-11-13 18:01 (#2V22)

My point exactly. Monopolies are never good for consumers. (Except maybe AT&T in the early decades. But even in that case, who knows what would have happened with multiple competitors? Very possibly faster, but likely more chaotic, innovation.)

Moderation

Time Reason Points Voter
2014-11-14 08:21 Flamebait -1 evilviper@pipedot.org
2015-02-12 09:05 Underrated +1 zenbi@pipedot.org

Junk Status

Not marked as junk