20 votes

FCC can define markets with only one ISP as “competitive,” court rules

4 comments

  1. time
    Link
    I don't know if I'm more upset that they used this argument, or that it seems to have worked. We need to get local municipalities to seize the last mile lines to homes from the telecoms and allow...

    The FCC voted last year to eliminate price caps imposed on some business broadband providers such as AT&T and Verizon. The FCC decision eliminated caps in any given county if 50 percent of potential customers "are within a half mile of a location served by a competitive provider."

    I don't know if I'm more upset that they used this argument, or that it seems to have worked. We need to get local municipalities to seize the last mile lines to homes from the telecoms and allow anybody to connect to them at will, for the same uniform price. The fees will cover maintenance and upgrades, and be mandated to keep the lines in good repair, using current technology. The ISPs prove time and time again they can't be trusted, so we need to take away their infrastructure and return it to public control.

    12 votes
  2. [2]
    spit-evil-olive-tips
    Link
    This is practically ~nottheonion material. The idea that any market with only one provider can be "competitive" on the grounds that another company might enter it just seems ludicrous to me.

    This is practically ~nottheonion material. The idea that any market with only one provider can be "competitive" on the grounds that another company might enter it just seems ludicrous to me.

    9 votes
    1. trojanhorse
      Link Parent
      It's ridiculous. They rigged the game, and then said play ball.

      It's ridiculous. They rigged the game, and then said play ball.

  3. patience_limited
    Link
    My low-effort response is, "da fuq!". I am literally soaking in the effects of living in a country where hospitals are still paying $1,000/mo. for crappy 10 Mb AT&T service because they're the...

    My low-effort response is, "da fuq!". I am literally soaking in the effects of living in a country where hospitals are still paying $1,000/mo. for crappy 10 Mb AT&T service because they're the only carrier. Where we can't provide telemedicine services to the rural areas that most need it because, well, the only carrier doesn't have high-speed service. The country that invented the Internet, and currently has worse Internet service coverage and availability than Vietnam.

    I am not feeling well-served by my government.

    4 votes