SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| reply to ProZach
Re: Hopefully this forces some changes
Problem with that is it's considered predatory pricing since it's only being offered in the one area. Comcast is basically the only cable game in town next to the muni, so if Comcast is undercutting the competition with the intent of running the competition out of business that's an anti-trust violation.
It's one thing when you have true competition over extended markets, but this isn't it. Do you want to know what's going to happen once the muni is run out of business? Prices will go back up again. Probably even higher than before. This isn't the way to assure a free market. |
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ProZach
@199.180.x.x | reply to SRFireside
"Comcast is offering its customers a 16-month discount on a combination digital TV and high-speed Internet package that would cut its usual price of $97 a month to $52."
'nuff Said |
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX | reply to ProZach
How can you say it's already happening when you said it "needs" to happen? What exactly is happening in your community? |
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ProZach
@199.180.x.x | reply to SRFireside
How can you say it's not working? In this community it's getting the consumers almost a 50% decrease in price. |
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| reply to ProZach
said by ProZach:
What needs to happen is the telco's and comcast need to be available to limit access to their lines, in the end they will sell access, for the right price. That has already been proven to not work because the line holder would prefer to be the only game in town. Currently the telcos aren't being forced share their line... although they live to make it sound like they are. They agreed to it back in 1996 and are complaining now because they have competition in markets they weren't forward-thinking enough to realize.
If there is one line already in the ground I feel that line should be open to competition. It's a lot easier on the neighborhoods than having several companies dig up their yards to put in redundant lines. Personally I think the best way to do it is to have the infrastructure owners be only in business to lease their lines out and not offer services. This would keep them impartial and honest while not keeping out any conflict of interest.
Of course my idea is just as unlikely though. |
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ProZach
@199.180.x.x
| reply to xdeadhead
Actually they should not be "forced" to open their networks and neither should the telcos. The consumer benifits most with competition in the market, forcing companies to open their networks to other ISPs doesnt acomplish this, it just causes confusion on the part of the consumer and a lot of issues for both the network owner and service provider.
What needs to happen is the telco's and comcast need to be available to limit access to their lines, in the end they will sell access, for the right price. But as we're seeing in these communities other operators will come in with competing service and cause Comcast (and the telcos) to lower their rates (as we see happening here). Problem is when we get what we want ppl whine that it's not fair. Just like Walmart coming into a town, they might put some businesses out of business but in the end it's better prices for all as Walmart competes with target. |
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xdeadhead
220, 221, Whatever It Takes.
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| reply to insomniac84
well they should at the very least be forced to open their network to competitors the same way the tecos have been forced to do so. only then, when the customer has real choice for services will we begin to see in improvement in situations like this. |
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