The Reality, Should the Comcast/TW Merger Go Thru

[ch33zw1z]

But we can all still stand up and ACT!!!! Even just signing petitions helps!
I got and put up links to lots!

I admire your optimism and hope.

 

[88keys]

Because what you tout empowers a miniscule percentage of the population IS WHY.

Faustian (whoreish) politicians sell their souls to Big business lobbyists and abrogate responsibility to their actual constituents regardless of their actual salaries which WE PAY. Those motivated by character with a sense of privilege and humility are never for sale to anyone. CIVIL SERVANTS WHO WORK FOR US.

I hope you were being sardonic. U were, right?

Cause that was more Roland than Steinway if U weren't. And, I am not dissing KBs.

lol, yes I try to keep my sarcasm as dry as possible.

 

[Virgorising]

I admire your optimism and hope.

Thanks. But isn't that how everything got done over time? Not sure, but I think.

 

[Virgorising]

lol, yes I try to keep my sarcasm as dry as possible.

Hah! I LIKE IT. It's both a Roland and a Steinway. Outstanding.:biggrin:

 

[KeithP]

Define ISPs as common carriers and prevent any ISP from being part of a company that owns content. Problem solved.

Do that and I wouldn't give a F@$% about the merger.

-KeithP

 

[poofyhairguy]

Honestly I see this as a good thing if the FCC throws in a ton of stipulations. For example, the only people getting their money's worth out of Verizon's phone service do so because of restrictions on their LTE and throttling set by the FCC.

If the FCC makes a huge cap and net neutrality a rider on this thing it could help the industry.

 

[Virgorising]

If the FCC makes a huge cap and net neutrality a rider on this thing it could help the industry.

It could? Reducing competition (the linchpin of Capitalism) to almost nothing will help? Give the soon gargantuan client base more options? Keep the merged Goliath on its toes? Insure we, the chickens, own our own coops and are The Deciders?

Just by evolving net neutrality rules?

Seriously?

 

[Virgorising]

Define ISPs as common carriers and prevent any ISP from being part of a company that owns content. Problem solved.

Do that and I wouldn't give a F@$% about the merger.

-KeithP

Fine. Get up and commence work to implement that, then. Unless you think it's going to happen all by itself.

 

[iRONic]

For openers:

http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/help-me-stop-the-comcast-time-warner-merger-2

http://www.change.org/petitions/sec...ck-the-merger-between-comcast-and-time-warner

http://illuminatebytanya.wordpress....he-comcast-time-warner-cable-merger-petition/

https://plus.google.com/+JohnBlossom/posts/5DYUMGxQKtc

http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/media/internet/news.php?q=1394464153

Signed 'em all.

 

[Virgorising]

Signed 'em all.

BRAVO!!!:wub:

You skated around the goalie and din give up!()

Deliberate SLAP SHOTS! Hah!
_________________________________
Late edit:
K......sumthin happnin. I responded with cute verging on WAY cute reference to Ice Hockey Avatar. Now, that avatar has morphed into a BeantownFD Avatar.

Is there a rotating random avatar option here I am missin?:whiste::sneaky:

 

[Newell Steamer]

It's OK, because we all know that industries self regulate themselves quite well.

So, your interests as a suc,.. uh, customer (shudder) will always be considered and fulfilled to their maximum capacity.

 

[Virgorising]

It's OK, because we all know that industries self regulate themselves quite well.

So, your interests as a suc,.. uh, customer (shudder) will always be considered and fulfilled to their maximum capacity.

Again, fine sarcasm a good defense against pain and frustration for sure!:biggrin:

Everyone heads up: the competition at the heart of the Capitalist model (i.e. EBAY), is what makes the model in its potential as brilliant and viable as it is!

Recently, I let lust for an awarded, in bloom Complex Paphiopedilum on ebay (I grow orchids) I saw, tracked and just hadda have....I let my lust take me beyond my original max bid. A lot. With shipping, ended up being almost $70. BUT, I only beat out one of the underbidders BY PENNIES! See how we determine the value of a given thing in the pure Capitalist model?????

I think I will bore everyone and put up a pic of this amazing puppy!!!! Feign excitement. And, nobody say I should have put that money toward an SSD.:sneaky:

I LUV THIS PUPPY! We, the bidders, determined the value!!!! THAT is how it's posed to work, OK?

 

[Newell Steamer]

Again, fine sarcasm a good defense against pain and frustration for sure!:biggrin:

Hey, if it were up to me, I would love to see the following: everyone, stop using the internet, and don't get on (or pay for it, sign up, etc), until it's priced fairly.

Now, such a coordinated task is damn near impossible. But, what WILL get their attention? Posts on these forums? Angry tweets? Rabble-rousing on reddit?

Nope. No way in hell.

Now, they DO react to a decline in spend.

Subscribers for TV content has dropped. And, they are "concerned". So, for (an example in my area), $60 (the price of just internet), TWC is offering TV and phone, for one year at that price.

Where as it was, something like $120. And, it will be after the one year.

So, we have to hit them in the pockets.

Now, is the internet vital? I would say no, from a personal perspective. We CAN live without it. Businesses would not be able to function, operationally.

So, we would have the pressure from the personal users no longer feeding the ISPs. Pressure from businesses who will no longer see the e-commerce traffic. And, the ISPs will pop.

Again, this is fantasy land thinking. But, we would get what we are asking for; affordable and reliable internet services.

 

[Virgorising]

Hey, if it were up to me, I would love to see the following: everyone, stop using the internet, and don't get on (or pay for it, sign up, etc), until it's priced fairly.

I....and bet, all of us, would rather eat worms. Seriously, who could live for even 15 mins without the net?

BUT, as per above, things evolve into fair pricing ONLY WHEN THERE IS HEALTHY COMPETITION.

That is why WE, The Deciders/Arbiters... gotta poke agencies and our elected officials with a stick to stop this MERGER.

Model works....be it ISPs, CPUs....or rare orchids on ebay!!!

Subscribers for TV content has dropped. And, they are "concerned". So, for (an example in my area), $60 (the price of just internet), TWC is offering TV and phone, for one year at that price. Where as it was, something like $120. And, it will be after the one year.

Yes!!!! We see it too! Almost nobody in my building subscribes to TW, RCN has almost the whole building now. Yes! The despised for good reasons TW is trying to suck people in with this loss leader, introductory thingy.....and then, they ZAP YOU at the end of the suck U in period, counting on that some people will be too lazy to switch.

Now, is the internet vital? I would say no, from a personal perspective. We CAN live without it. Businesses would not be able to function, operationally.

I admire you feel you could live without the net. I could not. Either professionally or personally. Scares me that I can't leave the apartment without my phone. Cause I am positive some of that is irrational.

 

[BoomerD]

While much of the FUD MIGHT actually be based on fact, I'd STILL love to see Comcrap buy out Wave Broadband. (my only local choice for broadband internet...besides Dishnet)

I don't LIKE Comcast...but LOVE their internet service.

 

[Midwayman]

I would say that the internet is at least as vital as the telephone anymore as far as moving it to a common carrier model is concerned.

 

[Virgorising]

I would say that the internet is at least as vital as the telephone anymore as far as moving it to a common carrier model is concerned.

I agree. It is wut it is.

 

[ControlD]

I think the Comcast / TW merger is only a concern in larger markets anyhow. In almost every small to medium market I have lived in, including the one I am in now, there is already only one choice for your cable provider. The competition war has already been lost for a lot of us. Right now I have one choice for cable: Time Warner. If the merger goes through I will still have one choice for cable: Comcast. The only people around here that have any choice are those that live in a town with a local provider, and that is a rare thing indeed.

 

[Newell Steamer]

BUT, as per above, things evolve into fair pricing ONLY WHEN THERE IS HEALTHY COMPETITION.

Well, there wasn't any healthy competition in my area before this merger,... so, not that many options available to us... or, me rather, from what I am seeing.

I admire you feel you could live without the net. I could not. Either professionally or personally. Scares me that I can't leave the apartment without my phone. Cause I am positive some of that is irrational.

I don't buy newly released movies and games,.. until they are cheap ($20 for games,... $10 for movies),.. so, I am a cheap bastard.

I would love to see competition,.. but, again, there isn't anything near or around me.

 

[Virgorising]

The competition war has already been lost for a lot of us. Right now I have one choice for cable: Time Warner. If the merger goes through I will still have one choice for cable: Comcast.

Don't roll over! DO STUFF! It will free you, liberate and empower you and restore you!

Seriously, I never take for granted my building is hardwired by TW (they say from 1970 on).....and the fabulous RCN. I never take that we have a choice for granted.

U gotta fight to restore the Capitalist model! To take yr power back as a Decider. Embarrassing how many times I have posted that here.

Again, MS, from almost jump, has had a litigation budget big enuff to run a small country. At least, once in a while, they loose anti trust suits. But get it's an ONGOING BATTLE.

 

[ControlD]

Don't roll over! DO STUFF! It will free you, liberate and empower you and restore you!

Seriously, I never take for granted my building is hardwired by TW (they say from 1970 on).....and the fabulous RCN. I never take that we have a choice for granted.

U gotta fight to restore the Capitalist model! To take yr power back as a Decider. Embarrassing how many times I have posted that here.

Again, M,S from almost jump, has had a litigation budget big enuff to run a small country. At least, once in a while, they loose anti trust suits. But get it's an ONGOING BATTLE.

There is nothing to be done as far as I know. I can decide to have cable or not have cable. There is no choice to be made in regards to the provider. I have only one choice.

 

[Virgorising]

Well, there wasn't any healthy competition in my area before this merger,... so, not that many options available to us... or, me rather, from what I am seeing.

First, merger is still pending. I am confused re how, should this horrific thing go thru, you will have more options technically.

I don't buy newly released movies and games,.. until they are cheap ($20 for games,... $10 for movies),.. so, I am a cheap bastard.

No! U not cheap. You are FRUGAL. I am as well. It's a GOOD THING.

 

[iRONic]

Signed 'em all.

BRAVO!!!:wub:

Why do the petiton whores insist on spamming the hell out of us after we take the time to support their cause?! Christ it's annoying...

 

[ultimatebob]

Why do the petiton whores insist on spamming the hell out of us after we take the time to support their cause?! Christ it's annoying...

Because they think that people actually read their e-mails.

Nope, we delete them as spam... just like the senators and congressmen do when they get these petitions. If we're lucky, we might get back a form letter from our congresscritter pretending to give a damn.

Meanwhile the CEO of Comcast is writing fix figure campaign contribution checks and going golfing with Obama while he's on vacation (seriously, there are pictures. Google it). Who has the real influence here?

Maybe instead of wasting our time filling out surveys, we should start our own SuperPAC.

 

[KeithP]

Interesting article over on Ars...
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...able-a-competitor-until-they-wanted-to-merge/

Comcast has repeatedly said the biggest reason US regulators should approve its $45.2 billion purchase of Time Warner Cable (TWC) is that the two companies do not compete against each other. While Comcast has more than 21 million customers and TWC has more than 11 million, there isn't a single city or town in America in which the two companies both offer video and Internet services.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) said that Comcast made a very different argument in order to secure approval of its 2011 purchase of NBCUniversal. During a hearing in 2010, Comcast argued that competition from Time Warner would prevent it from taking unfair advantage of increased ownership of television content.

I despise Franken but I have to admit, he hit the nail on the head with this one.

-KeithP