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FCC Boss Kevin Martin Leaves For Think Tank
Lauds self in resignation letter to Bush...
On the heels of news that the new FCC boss will be Julius Genachowski, FCC Boss Kevin Martin has announced he'll be stepping down next Tuesday. While it was suggested that Martin might eye a Congressional political career in his home state of North Carolina, his first step after the FCC will be a gig as a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute, according to the think tank's website. In his letter of resignation to President Bush, Martin pens: "As a result of the market-oriented and consumer focused policies we have pursued the American people are now reaping the rewards of convergence and the broadband revolution including new and more innovative technologies and services at ever-declining prices."
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AstroBoy
join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD

AstroBoy

Member

"ever-declining prices" ????

"ever-declining prices" ????

Where? When? Did I miss something?

Dogfather
Premium Member
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

1 edit

1 recommendation

Dogfather

Premium Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

My Verizon DSL prices had gone from $50 to $30 and speed quadrupled. And for pretty much everyone, the price for Mb has dropped substantially.

jt4
@comcast.net

jt4

Anon

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

50 for dsl. your crazy and what kind of speeds to they give u. i pay 45.95 for 12mb cable internet

Dogfather
Premium Member
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

Dogfather

Premium Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

Now you do. Not 10 years ago.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

Those are somewhat 'bundled' services - I take it.

I agree that in general, a price/kilobit or megabit has dropped. I did pay $39.99 / month for AT&T ADSL for 1.5/384kbps (with POTS service as a requirement) or $45/month for 2-4Mbps cable ($10 more w/o).
Now, its $24.95/month for 3Mbps (POTS requirement) or $40/month (dry) on ADSL, or $45/month for 10Mbps cable - lower bundled prices.

What _IS_ going up is the basic cost. I.e. you will get a ton of service... but you will not find any 'cheap' service.

E.g. I can not find a $25/month 1Mbps dry loop anywhere. Or a $25/month standard cable service anywhere.
Those that do have cheap(er) service are often full of fees/taxes/unfees/charges/adware

Dogfather
Premium Member
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

2 edits

Dogfather

Premium Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

Basic costs in services industries in general always go up because of general overhead cost increases. eg...the building they're in costs more, labor costs more, regulatory compliance (taxes, healthcare, workers comp, equipment and vehicle leases, general regulatory compliance fees, etc) go up. And up until very recently energy was up, particularly electricity and gasoline.

While the overall bills in some cases have gone up (mine have stayed the same or gone down), what you get for that has gone up more...in general. 10 years ago I certainly couldn't have gotten my T1 for the $400 I'm paying now. Before that my first office 768/128 DSL line was $49 and now a 1.5Mb biz DSL line is $30. I have been paying Cox about the same $43-$45 for HSI for over 10 years but speeds have gone from 3Mb with @Home to the current 9Mb and increase virtually every year.

In terms of what you would call "cheap" service...I don't think you ever saw a "cheap" service like that. The cheapest service I ever had was 1.5/1.5 best effort WISP for $25 but that was in a day where there was "nothing good on the internet".

Hall
MVM
join:2000-04-28
Germantown, OH

Hall to jt4

MVM

to jt4
said by jt4 :

50 for dsl. your crazy and what kind of speeds to they give u. i pay 45.95 for 12mb cable internet
Back in 2000, I signed up for 1500k DSL at the special rate of $39.95. That price lasted 12 months, I think, and went up to $49.95. Yes, $50 for 1.5M DSL.

Today I pay $35 for 6M DSL. Sure seems like a decline in price and it's really more than just a $15 price drop given that the speed is 4x faster.

jt4
@comcast.net

-1 recommendation

jt4 to AstroBoy

Anon

to AstroBoy
i must have missed it. who lowed there price. uverse is increasing it. i what to know what kevin is smokin?

PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD

PapaMidnight to AstroBoy

Member

to AstroBoy
Wondering the same thing...

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

2 edits

FFH5 to AstroBoy

Premium Member

to AstroBoy
said by AstroBoy:

"ever-declining prices" ????

Where? When? Did I miss something?
Yes you missed something.

Here is the FCC Wireless bureau report on wireless progress. Take note of dropping prices.

»www.fcc.gov/realaudio/pr ··· /wtb.pdf









And wired prices:

»www.fcc.gov/realaudio/pr ··· /wcb.pdf





I sure don't think Martin was a great FCC Chairman & Commissioner. But during his time there since 2001, prices have dropped significantly and numbers of users have exploded both for wireless & broadband connections.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

The 'price per unit' (ie. $/minute, $/txt, $/MB) has dropped, but in general, the cost of the actual service for the customer has always been creeping upwards.

Eg. SMS on AT&T Wireless was ... Free incoming, and $0.05 to send.
Now on AT&T 'Mobility' its $0.25 to received and $0.25 to send.

Cable TV service _was_ $45/month for standard broadcast, is now $56/month

The 'All The Best' package was $89.95/month, now is $119.95

POTS fees have been pretty stable (grossly overpriced), yet taxes/fees applied to it has gone up.

VoIP (indie) has been competitive in price, while Cable VoIP/Telco VoIP has been charging prices mirroring POTS service.. without the taxes.

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

1 recommendation

Camelot One to FFH5

MVM

to FFH5
said by FFH5:
said by AstroBoy:

"ever-declining prices" ????

Where? When? Did I miss something?
Yes you missed something.

Here is the FCC Wireless bureau report on wireless progress. Take note of dropping prices.

»www.fcc.gov/realaudio/pr ··· /wtb.pdf
[att=1]
[att=2]
[att=3]
[att=4]

And wired prices:

»www.fcc.gov/realaudio/pr ··· /wcb.pdf
[att=5]
[att=6]

I sure don't think Martin was a great FCC Chairman & Commissioner. But during his time there since 2001, prices have dropped significantly and numbers of users have exploded both for wireless & broadband connections.
And during my 9 years of running a computer business, I have been responsible for the across the board drop in ALL technology prices. Martin can take credit for broadband prices, but I get the per megabyte drop in memory and storage prices, per mflop drop in processor prices, and per inch drop in display prices.

See? I can make bullsh*t claims just like he can.

TechyDad
Premium Member
join:2001-07-13
USA

TechyDad to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
The "cost per unit" dropped only because of technological advances. When I first signed up with my web host, they gave me 1GB of storage. That increased over the years to the 160GB that they give me today. I'm paying less per month than when I started. Does this mean that Martin or Sectorlink was responsible for dropping the price per unit? Or does it mean that technology progressed and Sectorlink had a choice: Offer more space for the same amount of money or see their customers move to a web host that does.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru to FFH5

MVM

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

I sure don't think Martin was a great FCC Chairman & Commissioner. But during his time there since 2001, prices have dropped significantly and numbers of users have exploded both for wireless & broadband connections.
Well, it all depends on how you look at it. Since becoming the chair 3 years ago, the total cumulative drop in price per minute has dropped less then what it dropped in each of the 5 years prior to becoming the chair. I'm not saying it's directly connected to him being chair...but I'm just saying...

The above post is just a demonstration that statistics can be twisted to show any viewpoint. I don't actually think that there is a direct correlation to the price per minute and him being the chair, although I do imagine that there is a indirect correlation with the FCC's policies under his watch.
Expand your moderator at work
ajwees41
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Omaha, NE

1 edit

ajwees41 to AstroBoy

Premium Member

to AstroBoy
said by AstroBoy:

"ever-declining prices" ????

Where? When? Did I miss something?
I think cable Internet missed it also it didn't go down, but went up. When we first signed up (5 years ago)it was $30 and some odd cents now it's $44.95.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

And you think they should have gone down in those 5 years? everything goes up in price. not down. You're always free not to use it. Also i'm sure you're getting a much faster connection now than you did 5years ago.

banditws6
Shrinking Time and Distance
Premium Member
join:2001-08-18
Frisco, TX

banditws6

Premium Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

said by hottboiinnc4:

everything goes up in price. not down.
That's fascinating, I guess I was imagining things when I paid $5,000 for a simple personal computer in 1986. Prices for hardware technology sure have skyrocketed since then.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: "ever-declining prices" ????

And of course that is different. Most of that has moved from the US to another country so labor is cheaper.

But you can't tell me you pay more now for a loaf of bread then compared to now. You also can't say that milk was cheaper 5years ago as well.

Prices do go up. It's a matter of doing business.

Computers are different. They're able to cram more into a smaller area and cost less but also you get the prices cheaper when the companies start pulling a Wal-Mart and shipping production of the products to China and Mexico where labor is almost 80% cheaper there than here.

Mannus
Premium Member
join:2005-10-25
Fort Wayne, IN

1 recommendation

Mannus

Premium Member

he American people are now reaping the rewards.......

I want some of what he has been smoking....

jmn1207
Premium Member
join:2000-07-19
Sterling, VA

jmn1207

Premium Member

Re: he American people are now reaping the rewards.......

Perhaps the story neglects to define what Kevin considers to be "American people". The only people he knows are probably very rich and run a big business. Maybe prices are cheaper for the conglomerates because of policies and new technology? A CEO is a person, too.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen

Premium Member

Re: he American people are now reaping the rewards.......

said by jmn1207:

Perhaps the story neglects to define what Kevin considers to be "American people". The only people he knows are probably very rich and run a big business. Maybe prices are cheaper for the conglomerates because of policies and new technology? A CEO is a person, too.
And, some day, they'll be able to legally vote (and probably at a rate representative of their net worth).
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

1 edit

1 recommendation

fiberguy2 to Mannus

Premium Member

to Mannus
said by Mannus:

I want some of what he has been smoking....
Careful now..

I mean, I don't think Alfred E Newman needs to be taking credit for anything other than taking away choice from people by pushing consolidation, merges, etc.

But, the numbers do not lie. DSL prices dropped, speeds have increased for the majority of people.. to say "reap the rewards" is a little over doing it, but, the U.S. is not exactly going backwards or hurting either! It may not be to your standards and expectations, but to the majority of people in the U.S., there has been a vast improvement.

.. again, none of any of the improvements that the country has seen in the past years have been, in my opinion, anything based on the FCC's action.. ANY increase of speed or dropping of the price has been purely born from the competition.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen

Premium Member

Consumer Focussed?

How? Other than focusing on how to rape the consumer, that is...

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 edit

1 recommendation

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Consumer Focussed?

Well, he did try to protect you from Janet Jackson's boobie.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen

Premium Member

Re: Consumer Focussed?

said by Karl Bode:

Well, he did try to protect you from Janet Jackson's boobie.
Well, that I can understand: it was a pretty heinous boobie.

yuutomo
The Wonder Kitter
Premium Member
join:2001-08-27
Seeley Lake, MT

yuutomo

Premium Member

what the f___?!?!?!!

"the American people are now reaping the rewards of convergence and the broadband revolution"

what rewards? no competition, no choices, no service, wow, what innovation, where are we Soviet Russia??

"services at ever-declining prices"
should be
"ever declining services and skyrocketing prices"

jmn1207
Premium Member
join:2000-07-19
Sterling, VA

jmn1207

Premium Member

Saying is Believing

I'm going to bolt a wing to the trunk of my Sentra, paint some flames on the sides, and put it up for sale as a "Ferrari Killer" at $40,000. Maybe Kevin Martin will buy it? It has the exact same acceleration as a brand new F430 in a quarter mile. A quarter mile straight down.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

3 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Martin's resignation posted at FCC.gov

Here is Martin's resignation announced at FCC.gov
»hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_ ··· 09A1.pdf

Statement by FCC Commissioner Copps on Martin's resignation: »hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_ ··· 10A1.pdf

Statement by FCC Commissioner McDowell on Martin's resignation: »hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_ ··· 18A1.pdf

Statement by FCC Commissioner Adelstein on Martin's resignation: »hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_ ··· 26A1.pdf

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

1 edit

en102

Member

Re: Martin's resignation posted at FCC.gov

Sounds like a lot of a$$ kissing.
While he makes it sound like he's been heavy handed with the fines (most in history) - the Internet is relatively young - so there hasn't been much basis for prior FCC Chairmen to hand out the fines that exist now. I suspect the next will have an even larger role.
Expand your moderator at work

craptastic09
@bellsouth.net

craptastic09

Anon

yeah right

Scumbag... his photo attached to this news bit looks like something you see on a wall in a ceo office with the title of @$$ kisser of the month under it. I hate this guy he should be forced to live like the rest of us american people for the next ten years with only one of two choices for the internet and constantly trying to switch from one to the other everytime the isp sells off his personal data to junk mailers or decides to switch to metered billing. How bout it kev? you gonna live like the rest of us now with the gooberment hanging on your every word both in email and voice? I wonder if he gets junk mail and telemarketing calls everyday after tuesday.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: yeah right

his number will still be listed as private and nobody will be able to obtain it...unless you can get into the phone company's records of course and search for it-if the line is even in his name. But then again i'm sure nobody would mess with him since he would still be protected as a former public servant.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Martin 4th straight FCC Chairman to take position at Aspen

This will mark the fourth consecutive FCC Chairman to take this fellowship at the Aspen Institute upon leaving the Commission. The tradition, beginning with Democrats Reed Hundt (1993-97) and William Kennard (1997-2001), continued with Republican Michael Powell (2001-05) and now Martin.
What is the Aspen Institute and why Martin and previous FCC Chairmen?
Here is the pgm he was hired for:
»www.aspeninstitute.org/s ··· gram.htm
The Communications and Society Program is a global forum for leveraging the power of leaders and experts from business, government and the non-profit sector in the communications and information fields for the benefit of society.

The Program's projects fall into one or more of three categories: communications and media policy, communications technology and the democratic process, and information technology and social change.

Conference reports and other materials are distributed to key policymakers and opinion leaders within the United States and around the world. They are also available to the public at large through the World Wide Web.
Here are the topics they discuss:
»www.aspeninstitute.org/s ··· opic.htm

The Board of Trustees at Aspen include a great part of the power structure in the US:
»www.aspeninstitute.org/s ··· tees.htm

jhboricua

join:2000-06-06
Minneapolis, MN

1 edit

jhboricua

FCC numbers are as good as RIAA claims of loss due to piracy

Both paint an unrealistic picture. I bet all the numbers quoted for 2009 on their report are:

• not inflation-adjusted.
• excludes all the gravy-train fees tackled on by the providers.
• come from the same 'trusting' FCC sources that provides numbers of broadband penetration in the US and have an absurd definition as to what constitutes broadband.

CableConvert
Premium Member
join:2003-12-05
Atlanta, GA

CableConvert

Premium Member

Good Riddance

dont forget to close the door on your way out

pghviewer
join:2004-12-02
Ambridge, PA

pghviewer

Member

Re: Good Riddance

Later Kevin, You WILL NOT be missed!

bnm
@verizon.net

bnm

Anon

Huh

"FCC Boss Kevin Martin Leaves For Think Tank"...isn't this an oxymoron???

DownTheShore
Pray for Ukraine
Premium Member
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ

DownTheShore

Premium Member

Oxymoron

Kevin Martin and think tank?

Hall
MVM
join:2000-04-28
Germantown, OH

Hall

MVM

Coming soon, an enormous decline in front page stories !

Karl, what will you do now ?

moi
@rr.com

moi

Anon

huh??

Oxymoron if I have ever heard of one.

DrModem
Trust Your Doctor
Premium Member
join:2006-10-19
USA

1 edit

DrModem

Premium Member

Technically the price HAS dropped

Due to inflation.

If you payed $50/month in 2000 and are still paying $50/month today for the same connection, your price has technically dropped $10 due to inflation. One 2000 dollar would be equivalent to around $1.20 now, making a $50/month 2000 price a $60/month 2008 price.

So don't thank Martin, thank Paulson & Co.!

NY Tel
Premium Member
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY

NY Tel

Premium Member

Think Tank = Can't get meaningful work?

Ok let me say that I have NEVER been invited to serve on a Think Tank in fact the closest I have ever gotten is the ThinkPad I am typing on.

Isn't a Think tank like Purgatory?

MrMoody
Free range slave
Premium Member
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC

MrMoody

Premium Member

Re: Think Tank = Can't get meaningful work?

No, I imagine it means he gets paid without actually having to work or even show up. The last 4 exiting FCC chairmen have been Aspen Institute "fellows." I'm sure this "position" doesn't exclude him from other positions.
decifal7
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN

decifal7

Member

such a good life

Yup, I pay roughly 75 a month for 128kbps...... Life is good... Oh wait......

I hope this guy gets loved by a donkey while on a camping trip.. And to top it off.. His phone not work while hes in destressed, because his camping adventure is in a "rural" area..

kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

kamm

Member

Indict Martin!

Where's the FBI? This arrogant Mommy's oy, err, Cheney's right hand boy committed several federal crimes including lying to Congress, falsifying records, corruption, peddling influence - he served the very industry he supposed to keep on a short leash to serve US instead of eliminating compeetition etc.

Martin is a CRIMINAL, he should be tried, period.

Dominokat
"Hi"
Premium Member
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME

Dominokat

Premium Member

Bye Bye

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

FastiBook
join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

FastiBook

Member

Psh.

What a self congratulating tool. Prices have only come down because of competition, not because of the Failing Consumers Central.

- A
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