Criminals worried about losing money if they can't crime anymore.
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2024
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Why is something as vital if not more vital than US Mail left to scummy private companies?
We’re well into the 21st century. Many businesses will direct you to their website when you call in.
Having affordable internet access is not a luxury it’s a necessity.
It’s petty third world mindset to allow these rent seekers to continue to profit off of awful service. Especially when they actively seek to block municipalities from setting up their own ISPs.
OH NO MY DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS HAVE SABOTAGED MY OWN BUSINESS IN WAYS THAT I DIDNT FORSEE BECAUSE IM TOO SMART TO KNOW WHY THOSE REGULATIONS WERE THERE TO BEGIN WITH
places hand on cheek Gee…
On the one hand I think ISPs concerns shouldn't necessarily be ignored. It is crazy to try to force pricing or other free market values.
I think it is good to stop them from throttling content or other bad behavior but the FCC shouldn't be getting its hands in the weeds.
It is crazy to try to force pricing or other free market values.
The US government has, on multiple occasions, spent many many billions of dollars subsidizing the expansion of broadband internet. Often the ISPs would take the funds and under deliver, drastically. Like "Sure, we'll take $ to provide broadband in these areas" then provide it for like, a neighborhood within that area, mark that area as having access to broadband now, and cash their check.
...Or they'll lie about covering areas or planning to cover areas to prevent rival/startup ISPs from getting similar funding to expand access to an area without access. Imagine you don't have broadband and your ISP lied to the FCC so a rival ISP could not get grants/subsidies they'd use to fund their broadband expansion to your area.
They lie and cheat to steal government and customer money and maintain their anticompetitive monopolies. Its not a free market.
Then stop funding them with tax payer money. If you want competition lower the bar to entry. I want to see small towns do community infrastructure as an alternative to the terrible single ISPs that are normally present.
In bigger cities this isn't an issue. I can get fiber gigabit for pennies on the dollar through multiple companies. Competition is everything and if there isn't a big enough population to warrant bring in more companies then the community should make an ISP. Also I think Star link has done some good in that arena.
Then stop funding them with tax payer money.
The big ISPs? I agree - they can't be trusted. However, in most cases access wasn't happening at all without grants. The big guys just came in, strutted around promising the sun and the moon, then took the money and sat on it.
I want to see small towns do community infrastructure as an alternative to the terrible single ISPs that are normally present.
In many communities, it isn't possible to do that without the help of grants... running cable or fiber isn't cheap.
...but we can agree on this. I'd love to see municipal broadband break up these ISP monopolies.
Unfortunately, many states and municipalities have stupid laws still on the books that explicitly prohibit municipal broadband or force them to jump through hoops like getting ISPs to bid to provide the services first or some other bullshit. Its irrational fear of government run programs and socialism or whatever. Those laws are starting to get repealed.
Edit: I have mixed feelings about StarLink. I don't trust that they won't act just as terribly as the rest if given the chance and they are throwing a lot into the atmosphere without considering or planning for the consequences.