| Yeah, lack of "decent competition", and the fact that "3-7 mbps is the fastest speed" that most people need to "browse" the Internet (till you get to multiple-user homes with everyone wanting to "surf the web" all at the same time). If the "slowsky" telcos drop their prices in the face of higher speed competition (if/when it arrives), then bunches of customers will be happy to pay less for "slower" speeds. Way more people would rather pay less for only the speed they need than pay more for super-fast speeds that are 3 or 4 (or more) times faster than they need.
Sadly, the "national broadband plan" won't equate to "ensure decent competition" (or even the appearance of it). |
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| On the "lower speed for lower $$$" argument I'd say that's true...to an extent. Some people will stick with the $25 internet tier if they are provided one, while others (like yours truly) are willing to pay $50-$85 for internet, depending on how fast that internet is. I'd be willing to ay $85 for 35 Mbps symmetric but not $80 for 22/5; right now I'm paying $60 for 12/2 but would pay $70 for 20/4.
On the other hand you have people whose maximum internet expenditure is in the $50 range, subject to not getting crappy internet. They'll go for cable on average. Or fiber, if it's available and not priced in the stratosphere (FiOS 15/5 would be an example of such a decently-priced tier).
The folks who want cheap broadband will go with DSL, unless cable gives them a nice tirple play deal. |
| Back when I was working full-time (in IT), not only was I willing to pay quite a bit for broadband, I was willing to pay for redundancy--Verizon DSL and Comcast HSI (worked at a hospital). Didn't care about TV; had Vonage and Verizon POTS/PSTN (along with the DSL--no such thing as a dry-loop around here back then... or now as far as I know). Now, I still don't care about TV; have gone cell-phone only for now (though I still have the Gizmo/Google Voice setup--for when Gizmo actually works); and FiOS (same plan/price I've had for several years, since I got it). $55 for fast FiOS is OK, but I wouldn't have a problem going back to $30 or so for DSL (dry-loop) at 3000/768... of course, I can't get that where I live anyway; so $50-55 is about the best price I can get for any kind of broadband (even dial-up would cost $40 or more, so no contest there). Now, if I could get 5/2 FiOS for $30 or $35? yeah, I'd get it; it's fast enough for anything I still use the Internet for, and I can find better uses for the money. I could get a good triple-play price (for a year, then maybe switch for another year, and keep doing it), but there's really no value in doing that for me--I'm already getting the things I value at a price I can live with... don't really need a higher price along with getting things I don't value and don't really want. |
