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Wilsdom
join:2009-08-06

Wilsdom to kshusker

Member

to kshusker

Re: If ISPs are gonna do meters....

Bandwidth charges should also obviously be relative to bandwidth costs. My electric company is only allowed to pass on supplier cost with zero profit
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

I'm not defending HSI metering but the electric company is an allowed monopoly. Because of this, there are regulations in place that define how they can charge for their service.

Although I believe cable and telcos are really close to being monopolies, at this moment they aren't classified as such and are not regulated. I agree that they should charge fair prices for their products and services but right now, they can charge whatever they want and do whatever they want until we can legally provide sufficient evidence that they act as a monopolies and should be regulated.

Unfortunately they have a lot of money and firewalls in place to protect themselves from such consumer action. If possible, I'd favor figuring out a way to foster more competition. Unfortunately they employ a lot of money and firewalls to protect against competition. Kind of sounds like the record is skipping, doesn't it?

NOCTech75
Premium Member
join:2009-06-29
Marietta, GA

NOCTech75

Premium Member

said by rradina:

I'm not defending HSI metering but the electric company is an allowed monopoly.

So are many HSI companies.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

The video portion of their business, yes. But I was pretty sure the HSI is unregulated, isn't it?

NOCTech75
Premium Member
join:2009-06-29
Marietta, GA

NOCTech75

Premium Member

said by rradina:

The video portion of their business, yes. But I was pretty sure the HSI is unregulated, isn't it?

For many Americans they can only get 1 or the other.. DSL or Cable hence creating a monopoly.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

That's why I said this in my original post:
...until we can legally provide sufficient evidence that they act as a monopolies and should be regulated...
We may think they are monopolies and they might be monopolies but at this time, the FTC has not taken action to classify them as such and is not imposing regulations. I wish it were different and I agree with you but legally, they aren't subject to any regulation. They also file suit against the FCC whenever they try to impose things like "network neutrality" or any actions that attempt at a definition without sufficient loop holes to let them do whatever they please. Even when the FTC puts conditions on buyouts and mergers, there are loop holes, stall tactics and half-hearted attempts to comply