GolfHos

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/28/fcc_comcast_landmark/

Technically a duopoly situation, but whatever.

Martin has been a telco puppet since he took over the FCC top position, its not surprising to me that he comes out against a cable company.  As you know, I do not necessarily support the 'Net Neutrality narrowmindedness.  However, until this bastard does something that increases competition, I'll try to keep quiet and let them tilt.

of course not technically a monopoly, but in many areas they of course have monopoly.  there will never be fios in this part of pittsburgh, for example, as it currently stands.

I don't understand how Comcast can not be a monopoly. 

If I want cable with a provider other than Comcast, I have to move.

I guess you could argue that I have DirecTV and Dish Network available, but they are not cable.  I want cable.

Is that 'cuz satellite is a right bitch to spell correctly?

 ;D Preach it!



(I've had both satelite's before, and had a bad experience with both of them.  I have never had a problem with cable.  Always a good picture and the high speed itnernets is great.  I like Comcast, but if I didn't I think the only choice I would have is to move.)

The article was about traffic tampering on Internet service - Internet service is usually a duopoly of cable companies and telcos in most areas.

LOL.  Sorry, I didn't even see the link to the article.

I was just asking in naivety how they can be allowed to not provide a choice.

(http://www.tnpsc.com/christmas/images/nativity_scene.jpg)

"We beseech thee, sweet Baby Jesus: tell us how to properly define the market, that we might apply the Rule of Reason in thy name."

LOL

Well, prior to regional monopolies being granted by the government (both state and federal), services that required wiring often ended up looking like this (and this isn't even a problem spot - this is a normal pic):


(http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/jah/93.2/images/hochfelder_fig04b.jpg)



There were huge problems with companies cutting the competitions wires, honest problems as a result of wiring confusion, etc.  And of course the eyesore that is convoluted wiring.  People just started waking up one morning and saying WTF!  Yep, even at the turn of the last century, WTF! was uttered in mass by this mess.

Government to the rescue - we'll grant regional monopolies to get this under control, offer better prices (based upon a guaranteed market share, vs. the cost wiring up the whole region and only getting X% of the market - or so it was argued), and simplify life.

Cable companies were a bit different - local municipalities usually handled their 'exclusive rights' territory.  They did use the same argument though - we can offer better pricing and service if we have a guaranteed market.  Not to mention, the local municipalities often found some money in their accounts as a result of granting such exclusive rights.

So, here we are with a duopoly for intertubes service and integrated services (tv, phone, intertubes).  We asked for it, hell - practically demanded it.  But decades later we're starting to see the problems with such monopoly control.  This of course does not discount the real problems that were solved with said monopolies - they were plenty, and they really were solved.  We're just living with the flip side of monopolies now - they simplified things tremendously; but they have also limited consumer choice and technology progress at the same time.


And yes, this IS the short version  ;)

(http://www.photopumpkin.com/wp-content/uploads/electric_wire_3.jpg)

(http://www.photopumpkin.com/wp-content/uploads/electric_wire_1.jpg)

(http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/life/v-corp.jpg)

"The Crimson Permanent Assurance!"

show me a wiring pic of sweden where they have that 10MB/s service
 [sm_devil]

Sweden, wtf ??

Can l just show you a picture of my house, where I can have 10Mb/s service  [sm_devil]

oops, i thought it was sweden, but on 2nd thought i might be remembering wrong where it is that they have it.

anyways,
i doubt you can get 10MBs service for an affordable price for residential use. ... sure business use ...

I can see your 10Mbps ($35/month) and raise you to 16Mbps (@ $45/month)

Why is it so hard to believe that 'merka isn't that bad??

because i'm talking about 80Mbps  (10MBps)  not 10-15 Mbps

http://www.speedtest.net/global.php?continent=3
VL telecom  ftw.
 [sm_shock]

OK, missed the big B.

Nope, cant' get that - and it doesn't matter, as it makes no difference until the whole of the intertubes can support 80Mbps from more than a dozen homes simultaneously  ::)

Yikes! I'm going to need a shorter refractory period if they start offering 80Mbps around here.

 :o tmi

The keyboard has been drinking, not me. :angel:

Thanks Hobbers.  That's the info I was missing/didn't get.

LMAO Prego wife FTW!

fleshlight/realdoll stock ftw