Another Monopoly going down?

[Fanatical Meat]

Honestly I am not upset one bit. Cable will simply kill itself as people (especially young people) learn to live without it. Any regulations would have kept them in the game longer, and maybe even have entrenched their business model. I much prefer a world where people subscribe from the direct sources of their content (HBO, Netflix, Amazon, etc.) and cable eventually becomes something old people waste money on.

While I agree in a perfect world this would be great.
The new guy is against net neutrality so we could see a world where if you don't subscribe to TV service your streaming speed gets reduced or capped unless you either keep your TV service or pay an extra charge.
I'm a former wireless guy and I'm sympathetic to companies rights to manage traffic but I also know some executive somewhere will simply price streaming higher to keep his margins because share holder value and stuff.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The new guy is against net neutrality so we could see a world where if you don't subscribe to TV service your streaming speed gets reduced or capped unless you either keep your TV service or pay an extra charge.

I would be scared if this would actually happen, but so far only Verizon tried to play games with throttling streaming (and they are evil incarnate so I don't like to think every ISP is like them). I think if a company outright tried to do this there would be an uproar.

What is much more likely, and what we are already seeing, is ISPs not counting certain streaming services (including their own like AT&T is doing) against the customer's data cap. On one hand that entrenches certain services and gives an advantage to other services don't get, on the other hand many people LIKE basically getting data for free that they previously paid for.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If they get rid of net neutrality then screw streaming, just download overnight. All this stuff is simply going to push people to do torrents again. At least until they add caps, then you're kinda screwed. Maybe someone can start a service where you mail USB sticks around lol. No seriously, that could be interesting, something like TOR but for snail mail. you subscribe and every now and then you get packages, when you open it tells you where to mail the one that's inside. In return you get access to a list of content that you can receive via USB stick. It would get sent to you with other packages that you then have to mail out somewhere else.

I imagine it would not take long for the government to crack down on something like that though. They could probably trace users of said service via DNA.

 

[ultimatebob]

but... but... obama!

Yeah, I thought that Trump was pitting a former telcom company stooge in charge of the FCC. Maybe he hasn't got to it yet.

 

[K1052]

If they get rid of net neutrality then screw streaming, just download overnight. All this stuff is simply going to push people to do torrents again. At least until they add caps, then you're kinda screwed. Maybe someone can start a service where you mail USB sticks around lol. No seriously, that could be interesting, something like TOR but for snail mail. you subscribe and every now and then you get packages, when you open it tells you where to mail the one that's inside. In return you get access to a list of content that you can receive via USB stick. It would get sent to you with other packages that you then have to mail out somewhere else.

I imagine it would not take long for the government to crack down on something like that though. They could probably trace users of said service via DNA.

Or live somewhere where you can pick from various providers including some without caps/throttling.

 

[Sonikku]

Comcast must be fuming. They strategically placed their own suits at the FCC precisely to curb stop any move towards forcing them to compete. Surely they must be seeing things like this and net neutrality as nothing short of a betrayal. These new FCC guys better plan to retire after their current gig as they won't be holding another job in the telecom industry ever again.

Wow. Amazing how much the tide can turn in the year. I suppose we can thank Republicans for the death of net neutrality.

 

[Rubycon]

If they get rid of net neutrality then screw streaming, just download overnight. All this stuff is simply going to push people to do torrents again. At least until they add caps, then you're kinda screwed. Maybe someone can start a service where you mail USB sticks around lol. No seriously, that could be interesting, something like TOR but for snail mail. you subscribe and every now and then you get packages, when you open it tells you where to mail the one that's inside. In return you get access to a list of content that you can receive via USB stick. It would get sent to you with other packages that you then have to mail out somewhere else.

I imagine it would not take long for the government to crack down on something like that though. They could probably trace users of said service via DNA.

BE SURE TO DRINK YOUR OVALTINE!

 

[darkswordsman17]

If they get rid of net neutrality then screw streaming, just download overnight. All this stuff is simply going to push people to do torrents again. At least until they add caps, then you're kinda screwed. Maybe someone can start a service where you mail USB sticks around lol. No seriously, that could be interesting, something like TOR but for snail mail. you subscribe and every now and then you get packages, when you open it tells you where to mail the one that's inside. In return you get access to a list of content that you can receive via USB stick. It would get sent to you with other packages that you then have to mail out somewhere else.

I imagine it would not take long for the government to crack down on something like that though. They could probably trace users of said service via DNA.

I remember when they were labeling it Obamacare for the Internet, you fully supported the ones against Net Neutrality.

Exactly, they ban (or just don't enforce) net neutrality and/or employ caps and then content providers have to start paying to get zero rated.

Oh and gets even better, because the telecoms are buying up content companies too.

Why would they need DNA? Hell I bet the NSA would fucking love a service like that, as that would be a good way for them to access air-gapped systems.

I think there's work on special networks (I think there's one with the goal of setting up a mesh network so that people could have means of connecting without needing to pay or worry about government or corporate control). I think there's a group that actually setup weird USB kiosks (that are just like USB ports sticking out of brick walls) where you can drop off and pick up files, it was done as like an art project or something initially I believe, and then they found it was kinda cool so it became sorta like a lending library.

Yeah, I thought that Trump was pitting a former telcom company stooge in charge of the FCC. Maybe he hasn't got to it yet.

No, he has. Ajit Pai is now the FCC chairman. And while Wheeler was a surprise, I don't see anything but generally worst case scenario with Pai.

 

[destrekor]

I remember when they were labeling it Obamacare for the Internet, you fully supported the ones against Net Neutrality.

Exactly, they ban (or just don't enforce) net neutrality and/or employ caps and then content providers have to start paying to get zero rated.

Oh and gets even better, because the telecoms are buying up content companies too.

Why would they need DNA? Hell I bet the NSA would fucking love a service like that, as that would be a good way for them to access air-gapped systems.

I think there's work on special networks (I think there's one with the goal of setting up a mesh network so that people could have means of connecting without needing to pay or worry about government or corporate control). I think there's a group that actually setup weird USB kiosks (that are just like USB ports sticking out of brick walls) where you can drop off and pick up files, it was done as like an art project or something initially I believe, and then they found it was kinda cool so it became sorta like a lending library.



No, he has. Ajit Pai is now the FCC chairman. And while Wheeler was a surprise, I don't see anything but generally worst case scenario with Pai.

Yup, Wheeler was a surprise but he was a complete unknown in reality. Yeah we knew his background, but he had never had an FCC position before. Whereas with Pai, we know where he stands, along what lines he has voted for years now, there isn't going to be much in the way of surprises.

I mean, he may help put forward a better CableCARD replacement, go back to something like the AllVid proposal that includes security chips built into compatible devices (this was something the cable industry actually suggested). Honestly, I'd take that every day over the last version of Wheeler's cable box replacement plan. I liked the first proposal, for sure, but then he accepted the pleas of the industry and modified it to something that was basically worthless and had no real teeth. And it would have done nothing for me whatsoever: I have a small regional ISP, and they would have been excluded from the requirement to build out apps. And the big players are already doing that. I just didn't get the modified version of the proposal one bit. It was one instance of Wheeler playing as the industry's dog and that pissed me off.

I'm still hopeful AllVid comes back, it was something the industry was OK with and there have been some hints that Pai might get behind that idea.

But I expect, if we were to be blessed with that, it will be the only good thing to come from Pai's FCC. But as a CableCARD user, I'd be grateful if he did at least get that pushed through. Then again, I am certainly NOT holding my breath on that one. It's possible, just because the industry does support the concept and they would love to get rid of CableCARD to be replaced with a similar less craptacular idea. And hey, I agree! CableCARD is nice for what it offers, but it's a pretty shitty implementation that I am honestly shocked is still the best alternative to cable boxes today... the FCC has proposed replacements but fails to ever get fully behind them.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yup, Wheeler was a surprise but he was a complete unknown in reality. Yeah we knew his background, but he had never had an FCC position before. Whereas with Pai, we know where he stands, along what lines he has voted for years now, there isn't going to be much in the way of surprises.

I mean, he may help put forward a better CableCARD replacement, go back to something like the AllVid proposal that includes security chips built into compatible devices (this was something the cable industry actually suggested). Honestly, I'd take that every day over the last version of Wheeler's cable box replacement plan. I liked the first proposal, for sure, but then he accepted the pleas of the industry and modified it to something that was basically worthless and had no real teeth. And it would have done nothing for me whatsoever: I have a small regional ISP, and they would have been excluded from the requirement to build out apps. And the big players are already doing that. I just didn't get the modified version of the proposal one bit. It was one instance of Wheeler playing as the industry's dog and that pissed me off.

I'm still hopeful AllVid comes back, it was something the industry was OK with and there have been some hints that Pai might get behind that idea.

But I expect, if we were to be blessed with that, it will be the only good thing to come from Pai's FCC. But as a CableCARD user, I'd be grateful if he did at least get that pushed through. Then again, I am certainly NOT holding my breath on that one. It's possible, just because the industry does support the concept and they would love to get rid of CableCARD to be replaced with a similar less craptacular idea. And hey, I agree! CableCARD is nice for what it offers, but it's a pretty shitty implementation that I am honestly shocked is still the best alternative to cable boxes today... the FCC has proposed replacements but fails to ever get fully behind them.

Yeah, we've already seen Pai in the FCC and he's said some alarmingly crazy/stupid things. I can't even remember some of the blatantly ridiculous stuff, there was so much of it. At times he seems to be under the impression that the FCC is a very different organization than what it even is (and that's completely ignoring how he's paid to feel that the FCC, an organization created entirely with the intent to regulate communications, should not do any regulating).

I'll have to look into AllVid more. It sounds interesting. The quick Googling on it I did though does not indicate much support from the industry these days, so I wouldn't hold out much hope on it happening. I'm also troubled on the security chips aspect, as I have a bad hunch that will be used to institute porn (and other) blocking like the UK started trying to do, if not worse things like their stupid demand to have backdoors. So, while they claim they're deregulating things they end up doing anything but, or rather will just deregulate any ability to have oversight and protection from basically all the worst aspects so they can implement whatever they want to force onto people.

 

[destrekor]

Yeah, we've already seen Pai in the FCC and he's said some alarmingly crazy/stupid things. I can't even remember some of the blatantly ridiculous stuff, there was so much of it. At times he seems to be under the impression that the FCC is a very different organization than what it even is (and that's completely ignoring how he's paid to feel that the FCC, an organization created entirely with the intent to regulate communications, should not do any regulating).

I'll have to look into AllVid more. It sounds interesting. The quick Googling on it I did though does not indicate much support from the industry these days, so I wouldn't hold out much hope on it happening. I'm also troubled on the security chips aspect, as I have a bad hunch that will be used to institute porn (and other) blocking like the UK started trying to do, if not worse things like their stupid demand to have backdoors. So, while they claim they're deregulating things they end up doing anything but, or rather will just deregulate any ability to have oversight and protection from basically all the worst aspects so they can implement whatever they want to force onto people.

Rest assured that, even if there was some period of porn blocking and other "decency" and similar curbs to what we view, it wouldn't last long. I think, even in a conservative-majority Supreme Court, they'd have a hard time justifying the legality of such. UK gets away with these more draconian policies because they have a very different take on freedoms. I think there has been similar proposals here but they never get off the ground. And some of the old-school draconian policies, like those that forbid anal intercourse and pre-marital sex in some states, are becoming ripe picking for those who wish to front the legal fees to challenge and overturn in court. It's just about written on the wall. If not now, with certain religious nutjob judges, then later when more reasonable heads can tackle the issue.

Well... it was until Trump/Pence came around. Not sure even his new court picks (he gets to make appointments for the lower federal courts as well) will be on board with some of the fucked up shit they have in mind, and I hope they save us from the worst of the new administration's excesses. Trump is a wildcard on this kind of stuff, but with Pence basically holding his puppet strings, we WILL see some bad shit make it out... just how quick it can get turned around by the courts though, if at all... that's the unknown.


Getting back on topic...

AllVid is interesting for sure, and industry support varies. I don't think they were ever fond of it, but it was one of those "if it comes to pass, can we at least have XYZ added?" situations. Part of those concerns is why CableCARD is designed the way it was, to appease copyright owners and the cable industry. Getting a digital certificate-style system without a security device of any kind is going to be a hard pass, especially with a Republican FCC, who know not to bite the hand that feeds them (the industry). Even with a Democrat FCC, as we saw, AllVid and related measures were a very difficult sell. I just think there has got to be a middle ground here, as the cable industry would be thrilled to do away with CableCARD for numerous reasons. Give them something that appeases them, but still gives consumers an option much like CableCARD, and we can all walk away happy.

 

[lupi]

Just remember the companies that said we didn't need mandated change cause they were doing it any.


/snooze

 

[runzwithsizorz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ilMx7k7mso

 

[lupi]

Just remember the companies that said we didn't need mandated change cause they were doing it any.


/snooze

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-cable-broke-promise-youre-paying-191135140.html

 

[destrekor]

surprise surprise