FCC To Propose Regulating Internet as a Utility...

DrDoug · Feb 3, 2015

Here it is...

It's about damned time.

Zorba · Feb 3, 2015

Can't come soon enough. My internet price has gone from $45/month to $67/month in 3 years. The cheapest package (which was $30/month for years) has gone from $30 to $56 in 4 years. Only other option is UVerse which with the mandatory equipment rental is the same price for slower speeds.

There is just no good reason for wired internet service to not be a utility. It is probably more common than wired phone service. And it is a natural monopoly just like phone, electric, water, etc.

I think it is also going to be the only way to enforce net neutrality with the power of lobbyist on the Hill and apparently the USSC.

I do wish they were going further to regulate pricing/access, but I guess I'll take what I can get.

trenchfoot · Feb 3, 2015

I sure would like to be a fly on the wall when those big monied lobbyists go after our legislators. I'd like to know how many $$$ and deals it takes to corrupt them so successfully time after time.

Strk · Feb 3, 2015

Zorba said:
Can't come soon enough. My internet price has gone from $45/month to $67/month in 3 years. The cheapest package (which was $30/month for years) has gone from $30 to $56 in 4 years. Only other option is UVerse which with the mandatory equipment rental is the same price for slower speeds.

There is just no good reason for wired internet service to not be a utility. It is probably more common than wired phone service. And it is a natural monopoly just like phone, electric, water, etc.

I think it is also going to be the only way to enforce net neutrality with the power of lobbyist on the Hill and apparently the USSC.

I do wish they were going further to regulate pricing/access, but I guess I'll take what I can get.

I don't like the idea of regulating pricing, but I hate the nearly nationwide monopoly broadband providers have. The fake free market we have is bullshit. It sucks that you have no leeway with ISPs. The one thing I always tell someone who has access to two is that it always gives them leverage since they can just keep switching, but most of us can't do that. Out of curiousity, I just checked Comcast's site and did notice they did add a couple of new packages, but they are still crap. $60 for 25mbps and basic cable (10 channels) and you have to upgrade to their x1 thing, so probably another $10-20 for that thing. And there is no option for internet only.

Jimzz · Feb 3, 2015

tweaker2 said:
I sure would like to be a fly on the wall when those big monied lobbyists go after our legislators. I'd like to know how many $$$ and deals it takes to corrupt them so successfully time after time.

This!!!

I am not waiting to see what happens when this goes into affect but to see how much money is dumped into "donations" and the next election cycle to stop it.

I expect a lot of money to go to Democrats as many have already bought off enough republicans just need a handful of Democrats to join up to gut the FCC and give big business back its power.

boomerang · Feb 3, 2015

Be careful what you wish for...

charrison · Feb 3, 2015

boomerang said:
Be careful what you wish for...

Yup, cause we are about to get it.

It wont bring lower prices and and innovation will die if it goes under title 2 like voice service.

K1052 · Feb 3, 2015

boomerang said:
Be careful what you wish for...

You mean the ISPs right? Ultimately their own legal actions forced this.

boomerang · Feb 3, 2015

K1052 said:
You mean the ISPs right? Ultimately their own legal actions forced this.

If it's implemented let's revisit this in 5 years after implementation. Let's see what effect government intervention had. I see no value in going back and forth on what if's. I have my views on what happens when big government starts throwing their weight around and I'm sure you have yours. Nothing is to be gained from a back and forth on it.

I have little hope that I can sway big government in its quest for more power. It's got to be intoxicating to them to be able to stick their nose under the tent that contains the most powerful means of communication man has yet devised.

cbrunny · Feb 3, 2015

It sounds like if they're going to do anything they should create a new "title" that better addresses the concerns on both sides.

Matt1970 · Feb 3, 2015

boomerang said:
If it's implemented let's revisit this in 5 years after implementation. Let's see what effect government intervention had. I see no value in going back and forth on what if's. I have my views on what happens when big government starts throwing their weight around and I'm sure you have yours. Nothing is to be gained from a back and forth on it.

I have little hope that I can sway big government in its quest for more power. It's got to be intoxicating to them to be able to stick their nose under the tent that contains the most powerful means of communication man has yet devised.

We all know damn well that if prices go up under government control the left will just claim it would have gone up that much anyways, just like they did with the ACA.

fleshconsumed · Feb 3, 2015

1. About time.
2. I still find it hard to believe that Tom Wheeler, a former phone/cable lobbyist, is pushing for this. Amazed even. I guess I am still in denial that this is even being proposed.

glenn1 · Feb 3, 2015

charrison said:
Yup, cause we are about to get it.

It wont bring lower prices and and innovation will die if it goes under title 2 like voice service.

Same thing with net neutrality - people only care about watching their cat videos without interruption or buffering and they don't have to pay retail costs for the infrastructure to let that happen. If they can have the government step in to force the "greedy" ISPs to lower their prices they will, future capacity investment be damned and don't you dare allow that doctor at the hospital to have a faster connection than me since my Hulu show is just as important as his video conference surgical consult.

I can't wait until the FCC has turned the internet into something as remarkable and user-friendly as Amtrak or the local New Jersey Turnpike Toll Plaza.

Jimzz · Feb 3, 2015

boomerang said:
If it's implemented let's revisit this in 5 years after implementation. Let's see what effect government intervention had. I see no value in going back and forth on what if's. I have my views on what happens when big government starts throwing their weight around and I'm sure you have yours. Nothing is to be gained from a back and forth on it.

I have little hope that I can sway big government in its quest for more power. It's got to be intoxicating to them to be able to stick their nose under the tent that contains the most powerful means of communication man has yet devised.

OK then don't use your views or opinions, use facts. As someone else already brought up look what happened to phone service options and pricing when it was opened up.

Newell Steamer · Feb 3, 2015

ISPs have failed,.. even when given ample tax credits/breaks to bring the US up to snuff.

Yeah, yeah,.. wha, wha dey do?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...reak-heaven-according-to-corporate-tax-study/

realibrad · Feb 3, 2015

Newell Steamer said:
ISPs have failed,.. even when given ample tax credits/breaks to bring the US up to snuff.

Yeah, yeah,.. wha, wha dey do?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...reak-heaven-according-to-corporate-tax-study/

ISPs have not failed. They are making money, and having taxpayers pay for things they may or may not use.

Imagine the amount of infrastructure they could build if they took the money from lobbying and put it into hardware.

Strk · Feb 3, 2015

fleshconsumed said:
1. About time.
2. I still find it hard to believe that Tom Wheeler, a former phone/cable lobbyist, is pushing for this. Amazed even. I guess I am still in denial that this is even being proposed.

It is definitely hard to believe that Wheeler is pushing for this, that's for sure. He is supposedly a dingo after all.

Zorba · Feb 3, 2015

Jimzz said:
OK then don't use your views or opinions, use facts. As someone else already brought up look what happened to phone service options and pricing when it was opened up.

Last time I checked, voice phone is still a regulated utility. Basic home phone has been pretty much the same price my entire life. The available options and included options have also gone way up over that same period of time. Under that paradigm voice telephone lines have also morphed into data lines, then into high speed data lines.

werepossum · Feb 3, 2015

It's worth pointing out that if Internet service goes under Title 2, then the Gore taxes which afflict wired phone service may be applied to your Internet service as well.

Jimzz · Feb 3, 2015

Zorba said:
Last time I checked, voice phone is still a regulated utility. Basic home phone has been pretty much the same price my entire life. The available options and included options have also gone way up over that same period of time. Under that paradigm voice telephone lines have also morphed into data lines, then into high speed data lines.

Title2 does not mean something is not regulated.
And maybe I am showing my age but long distance calls, collect calls, etc... use to cost a arm and a leg, per minute. Then we had competition that got us the 1800collect, MCI's, etc... and prices came down year after year with more competition. Now many things we had to pay for are included in basic service.

Look at the history of the phone system and how they were able to stifle competition, keep prices high, and control the market.

brandonb · Feb 3, 2015

werepossum said:
It's worth pointing out that if Internet service goes under Title 2, then the Gore taxes which afflict wired phone service may be applied to your Internet service as well.

Yep. There will be a $10/month fee added to everybody's bill to make sure inner city welfare moms have access to free internet.

brycejones · Feb 3, 2015

brandonb said:
Yep. There will be a $10/month fee added to everybody's bill to make sure inner city welfare moms have access to free internet.

Is this the new welfare queen myth? On welfare with the $2500 gaming computer?

SMOGZINN · Feb 3, 2015

Strk said:
It is definitely hard to believe that Wheeler is pushing for this, that's for sure. He is supposedly a dingo after all.

I'm won't believe it until I can see the entire regulations written, until then I'm going to assume that this is a wolf in sheeps clothings.

brandonb said:
Yep. There will be a $10/month fee added to everybody's bill to make sure inner city welfare moms have access to free internet.

You know what, if an additional $10 tax would guarantee broadband internet to every home in America I would be fine with that. Connecting up people to the internet is as important to our future as a nation connecting houses up to electricity was to our past.

brandonb · Feb 3, 2015

SMOGZINN said:
You know what, if an additional $10 tax would guarantee broadband internet to every home in America I would be fine with that. Connecting up people to the internet is as important to our future as a nation connecting houses up to electricity was to our past.

I'm ok with that too. Unfortunately most of the time when we have these taxes. It usually only goes to the poor inner city "youths."

Nebor · Feb 3, 2015

brandonb said:
I'm ok with that too. Unfortunately most of the time when we have these taxes. It usually only goes to the poor inner city "youths."

So you're saying unique visitors to World Star Hip Hop is about to skyrocket?

FCC To Propose Regulating Internet as a Utility...

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