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FCC Moves To Block Comcast Growth
Defeated Martin tries another route...

With FCC chief Kevin Martin's plan to regulate the cable industry all but scrapped on Tuesday night, the FCC boss yesterday tried another option. He proposed a rule that would cap Comcast's growth at thirty percent of the TV market. Cable views this as asymmetrical regulatory policy, given that AT&T's merger with BellSouth created the largest broadband provider in the industry, with Martin barely batting an eyelash. From the New York Times:

quote:
Officials said that Mr. Martin notified other commissioners this week of the agenda for the agency’s next formal meeting on Dec. 18, and that it included a vote on his proposal to prohibit a cable company from controlling more than 30 percent of the market. Comcast is at about that level.
Martin has convinced the press he's waging war on cable because the former Cheney aide is just really concerned about high TV prices. Yet TV rates continue to rise despite Verizon and AT&T's entry into the market, and with Martin's track record, the FCC boss has an uphill battle convincing anyone he's a consumer advocate. He's also shown himself to be too clever to brush aside this campaign as the result of incompetence.

That leaves us with only a few options to explain his cable crusade: Martin is either a few sandwiches short of a picnic, or he's slapping cable around at the behest of ma bell. For some reason, many analysts seem to react to this last possibility with the kind of hushed, indignant whispers reserved for belches at a high-society cocktail party. These same analysts have no problem believing Martin's goal is consumer advocacy when his track record argues against it.

We're sorry to tell you that Kevin Martin couldn't care less about your cable bill. His primary goal is to help powerful political allies (aka AT&T and Verizon) solidify their telcoTV business models. He's already successfully helped them to demonize and eliminate the local franchise system, which essentially legalized cherry picking, killed off public access TV, eroded consumer protections, and in some cases stripped localities of eminent domain rights.

The question then becomes, is Martin still doing a good thing by leashing the cable industry, even if his intentions are not particularly noble?
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FFH5
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Tavistock NJ

2 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

The question then becomes, is Martin still doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth, even if his intentions are not particularly noble?
The very easy answer is no. Let the market decide who gets bigger in the TV marketplace - cable or telco or satellite. Customers and investors are more capable of efficiently allocating scarce financial resources to the best methods of delivering TV content. Martin should keep his hands off. Regulations never accomplish anything but a distortion of the natural marketplace.

And aside from any issues about the appropriateness of a cable limit or not, the court already struck down in 2001 an attempt by the FCC to limit cable penetration.
National Cable and Telecommunications Association said that since the 2001 court decision to strike down the cable ownership limits

DotMac4
Shill H8r
Premium Member
join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

The market doesn't decide who gets the bigger.

They simply buy their way into other markets through M&A with the money reaped from their endless price increases.

They aren't EARNING their growth through excellent service at a fair price as companies in other industries have to do.
openbox9
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join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

But yet consumers still blindly throw their money at Comcast. Until the sheeple speak with $$, Comcast will continue to grow.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

DotMac4

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Sometimes their only choice is take it or leave it...no competition.

swintec
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join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by DotMac4:

Sometimes their only choice is take it or leave it...no competition.
This whole argument is depending upon the fact that what the cable companies offer is a NEED in order to live, and NOT an entertainment service like it is.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

No it's that cable companies are granted access by gov't franchise and should be subject to basic rules designed to protect customers in exchange for this sanctioned monopoly.

swintec
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Alfred, ME

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swintec

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by DotMac4:

No it's that cable companies are granted access by gov't franchise and should be subject to basic rules designed to protect customers in exchange for this sanctioned monopoly.
Any other cable company is free to enter towns and cities as they want, provided they follow the proper permit paperwork and such. They must build there own cable network and such, however. Just because other companies won't enter and build there network, the current cable company there is the bad guy?

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

4 edits

1 recommendation

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Sure, someone could fight the telco and cable video services if they want to spend millions in court fighting lawsuits »Qwest Sues 14 City Utah Fiber Project , push polls »Playing Twenty Questions , scare tactics »Muni Misinformation? , predatory pricing »'Discounted' Competition [79] comments and propaganda.

Meanwhile in exchange for their money tree, cable and telcos can follow very simple rules designed to protect consumers. If not, they can sell their services in a way that doesn't require public ROW or in the case of telcos, billions in taxpayer money »Picture Perfect Deal

If companies like Comcast didn't throttle customers with massive price increases twice a year or like Cox, THREE times in a single year all while customer service goes into the toilet...there would be no problem. The FCC would ignore the cable industry.

But so long as companies like Comcast continue their anticonsumer policies, engage is predatory pricing and endlessly raise prices at 3X the rate of inflation, they're going to have the gov't spotlight on them.
openbox9
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openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by DotMac4:

Sure, someone could fight the telco and cable video services if they want to spend millions in court fighting lawsuits »Qwest Sues 14 City Utah Fiber Project , push polls »Playing Twenty Questions , scare tactics »Muni Misinformation? , predatory pricing »'Discounted' Competition [79] comments and propaganda.
Competition from a government entity, isn't a fair competition. You won't see cable or telco companies fighting/suing entry into their markets from private/public companies playing on an equal field.
said by DotMac4:

If companies like Comcast didn't throttle customers with massive price increases twice a year or like Cox, THREE times in a single year all while customer service goes into the toilet...there would be no problem. The FCC would ignore the cable industry.
Boohoo. Inflation. Things cost more all of the time. People want infrastructure improvements and 100 Mbps to their residences, but they don't want to pay for the privilege. I have no sympathy for those whining about their cable TV price going up. It's entertainment, not potable water or other another life necessity.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

4 edits

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Funny, UPS and Fedex seem to compete with USPS overnight services just fine. Private schools seem to compete with public schools just fine. Our local privately owned toll roads seem to complete too well with our 'freeways'.
Private hospitals compete with public hospitals.

Private industries compete with public every day.

And boo hoo inflation...that is all well and good except companies like Comcast are raising rates at 3X inflation year after year after year and some like Cox, do it up to 3 times in a single year. All the while customer service goes into the tank.

If cable or telcos don't like it, let them surrender their gov't granted franchises and presence in public ROWs, return the billions in taxpayer money they got and make room for a replacement otherwise they can follow some simple rules that protect customers from crap service, channel extortion, lies, push polls, lawsuits, predatory pricing and endless price increases.
openbox9
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1 recommendation

openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Most of your private/public examples began with government and introduced the private side. So, private industry began competing with the government, not the other way around.

»20% of Comcast Users To See DOCSIS 3.0 in 2008 [62] comments
Comcast is now on the front page committing to infrastructure upgrades and yet people complain that they continue to pay more money. Once again, I have no sympathy for those paying price increases for entertainment.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
Premium Member
join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

1 edit

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

So will only 20% of users see the annual 3X inflation price increase on video services in 2008?

My guess would be no.
openbox9
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join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

I doubt it, but how is that relevant anyway? Do you seriously think any company would wait until after a new or upgraded technology is deployed before increasing revenue to cover the necessary capital expenditures?

DotMac4
Shill H8r
Premium Member
join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

3 edits

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

That is just the excuse of the day. These 3X inflation price increases on VIDEO services have been going on for years. What...Comcast been saving up for DOCSIS deployments? And then only to areas served by telco fiber?

They didn't raise video prices 30% in 3 years and engage in predatory pricing to fund DOCSIS deployment in FiOS territories.

If cable doesn't want to comply with the most basic consumer protection rules, they are free to not renew their franchise agreements. If telcos don't want to follow the same rules...let them give back the billions in taxpayer money they stole.
openbox9
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71144

openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

You keep using the term "predatory pricing". How exactly are cablecos conducting "predatory pricing"? As for video service cost increases, do you think that might be the content providers' doings and not the cablecos?

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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Huntington Beach, CA

3 edits

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Here's a perfect example of cable predatory pricing.

»'Discounted' Competition [79] comments

As for content providers being the reason behind exponential price increases, no...cable operators could say no to the increases. I've posted on this exact subject way too many times to explain again why they could say no and win without losing customers.

»Re: a la carte can't work

Don't forget, we're not talking about turning cable and telco operations into a charity...just simple rules designed to protect consumers and stimulate competition. No different than any other industry like airlines about delays and telemarketers with the do not call lists.
openbox9
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join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Now you've confused me. You're complaining that Comcast has the ability to whimsically raise prices yet you also have issue with "predatory pricing" (which is common practice and isn't predatory IMO). How exactly is this "predatory pricing" going to fund upgrades. And why isn't it a good thing for consumers?

The cable operators can say no to content price increases in a similar manner that customers can say no to cable TV price increases...it doesn't mean that it will happen though.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

4 edits

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Predatory pricing funds upgrades by eliminating competition which can even eliminate the need for upgrades in the first place. Once the competition is eliminated, they return to the annual 3X inflation price increases. What Comcast did was absolutely predatory.

Predatory pricing is such a serious threat to competition that its prohibition is clearly stated in the US Code. You can see that what Comcast did easily meets the definition of predatory pricing.
said by US Code :
TITLE 15 > CHAPTER 1 > § 13

§ 13. Discrimination in price, services, or facilities

Release date: 2004-05-18

(a) Price; selection of customers
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce, either directly or indirectly, to discriminate in price between different purchasers of commodities of like grade and quality, where either or any of the purchases involved in such discrimination are in commerce, where such commodities are sold for use, consumption, or resale within the United States or any Territory thereof or the District of Columbia or any insular possession or other place under the jurisdiction of the United States, and where the effect of such discrimination may be substantially to lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce, or to injure, destroy, or prevent competition with any person who either grants or knowingly receives the benefit of such discrimination, or with customers of either of them
That is EXACTLY what Comcast did. They dropped the price to below market rates (from $97 to $56)only in this specific area to eliminate a competitor while across town (so the product was certainly of like grade and quality) Comcast charged their normal high rates. That is predatory pricing and it's illegal.

»assembler.law.cornell.ed ··· 00-.html

If Comcast ran a region wide sale at this price, or a nationwide pricing change then it's not predatory. But doing it only for 4600 people who could get the $76 service from the muni...it's absolutely predatory and illegal.

As for cable operators saying no, they certainly can. Apple did it with iTunes against the music industry. As I described in another thread, Jobs is under constant assault by the music industry to raise prices but Apple simply refuses. Some labels walk but as a result iTunes has grown into the #3 music seller behind Wal*Mart and Best Buy because of the $1 flat rate pricing scheme. If iTunes were run by a cable company there would be no a la carte music sales and a CD would be $25.

If Wal*Mart can hammer product distributers and iTunes can hammer the music industry, certainly the NCTA membership can do the same to the channel extortionists at ABC. And when ABC walks, cable runs endless commercials detailing the greed of ABC with a number to call. But cable hs never (at least I've never seen an example like I have with DBS) let a channel walk or even started going to war with these content creators (eg ABC). They are complicit in the channel bundling and blame their massive and consistent price increases on it.

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by DotMac4:

But cable hs never (at least I've never seen an example like I have with DBS) let a channel walk or even started going to war with these content creators
The NFL Network.

In the mean time, you still didnt address the fact that any other cable company is free to come in and construct there own cable system, provided they follow the proper rules for permits.

In fact, there are several markets right now that have 2 cable companies in there neighborhood among the other options like satellite. At any rate, ask those customers in those areas how much they are actually saving by having this "competition" you keep harping on. The pricing for services in these areas are largely the same, despite the competing cable companies.

Go to RCN cables website (who's business is over building in other cable companies areas), pricing looks pretty much in line with TW prices here in my area.

Also, do you keep skipping over fiberguy2 See Profile posts or something? He spells things out quite clearly for you.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
Premium Member
join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

4 edits

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

I cancelled cable TV (still am an RR Extreme customer and VERY happy) and went to E* (which I also ended up canceling) before this apparent NFL network war started. If true, it's a good start. If cable, telcos and DBS did this with all the channel extortionists, perhaps they could get prices into check and the FCC would no longer be interested in driving them crazy.

I have already explained why their (cable and telco) market position and tactics prevent competition (and gave numerous examples) but your RCN example is certainly a good counter-point. Unfortunately there aren't enough RCNs willing to take on that challenge. But the result from the lack of RCNs in this world shouldn't be instant carte blanche to run roughshod over customers. And as you state, adding a singular competitor doesn't help if that competitor follows the same forced bundling model. If that were the case, DBS is already in every market the cable and telcos are.

And yes, I place on ignore fanboys of all types (cable, telcos, Macs, Pee Cees, politics, consoles, etc) who demonstrate a long history of shilling and excuse making for their particular industry and constantly attack competing industries no matter how many times their claims have been debunked or counter examples have been shown. I'm open minded (so much so that I even post my displeasure with the all mighty Apple »Re: "Leopard is the New Vista, and It's Pissing Me Off" »Re: "Leopard is the New Vista, and It's Pissing Me Off") and on many occasions have had my opinions changed by reading compelling arguments here. These fanboys however will never change and rather use the forums to spout company talking points. If I want talking points I'll go to the CEOs blogs and PR mouthpieces and get them. They're certainly free to post them, but I chose to ignore them.

It's counterproductive to the discussion to entertain these few users. There are plenty of other users who are rational, objective and open minded to discuss this with even if I disagree with them and they with me.
openbox9
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to DotMac4
I won't argue semantics between predatory and competition.

The cablecos have no motivation to tell the content providers to take a hike when they can pass their costs on to consumers. I'm still failing to see the issue.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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Huntington Beach, CA

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by openbox9:

The cablecos have no motivation to tell the content providers to take a hike when they can pass their costs on to consumers. I'm still failing to see the issue.
Exactly and THAT is the issue. It is my opinion, and that of many people that they need to be motivated to get their insane increases and anti-competitive (sometimes illegal) practices under control, by gov't intervention if necessary.

The gov't went after telemarkers when they got out of hand. They went after the airlines when delays were getting out of hand. They went after Microsoft. They went after insurance companies (in California anyway). It's time they do the same to these video providers who abuse their market position.
openbox9
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openbox9

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Sounds like the government needs to be going after the root issue (i.e. content providers) instead of nagging the middlemen, just like the other governmental examples that you provided.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

They don't need to "go after" anyone.

They just need to change the selling rules to give customers choice in saying no to the content providers. The problem with the middlemen is that they are complicit in the channel bundling.

Give customers choice in the channels they buy and the market will do the rest. Prices will drop and programming improves as channels actually have to EARN every dollar they get rather than rely on sweetheart deals with the "middlemen".

swintec
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join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec to DotMac4

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to DotMac4
Cable companies received money from the government to build there networks??

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

4 edits

DotMac4

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Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Yes, both telcos and cable operators take taxpayer money hand over fist.

»www.phillyburbs.com/pb-d ··· 149.html

In this example, Comcast got $17.1 million (the biggest cut of total aid) in grants, loans and tax breaks for Comcast's Phili HQ and data center and another $30 million for public improvements around Comcast's HQ. This despite Comcast reporting profits that year of nearly $1 billion.

The telcos are even worse. Pennsylvania gave Verizon over $2 billion in similar freebees for fiber deployment THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

These businesses (video service giants) also threaten to cost taxpayer money if they don't get their way. »Louisiana Fiber and 'Economic Blackmail'

SLD
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San Francisco, CA

SLD to swintec

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to swintec
Unless you NEED Internet access to live, like I do, then it is not exactly entertainment anymore, is it!?!

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by SLD:

Unless you NEED Internet access to live, like I do, then it is not exactly entertainment anymore, is it!?!
Have business internet account prices been raised at the same level? T-1's and such tend to come with contracts to, so you have a fixed price. If you are using a residential account, then you have little to complain about, you are getting it for a steal.

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

SLD

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

Doesn't change the fact that there isn't any competition, and therefore, business rates are still very high.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
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fiberguy2 to SLD

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to SLD
If you "need" it, then get a "business class service"... in which those prices have fallen drastically.

No one NEEDS the internet.. but, it DOES make their life easier.

And before you throw out "my job requires it..." then your employer should be paying for it too. If you are self employed, and you "need" it that way, then purchase a business class service and pay the price like every other business who makes their money off it.

But, don't come here crying a river over a residential service.

Even at Comcast's un-bundled $54 price tag, that's still a bargain compared to just 7 years ago when the average user paid $45 for a 256mb DSL service OR were still paying about $55 for dial up. (Many people used a second phone line AND $25 dial up account to get on line and could only use ONE computer at a time)...

Seriously, the whining needs to come down to a dull roar. Many of you guys don't know what feeling pain at the wallet is - yet. Many of you who think life today is so bad, even with $3 gas, and $119 cable/inet/phone bills... YOU DON'T KNOW stretching.

The internet, for most people at home, is still for entertainment.

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

1 edit

SLD

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

said by fiberguy2:

Even at Comcast's un-bundled $54 price tag, that's still a bargain compared to just 7 years ago when the average user paid $45 for a 256mb DSL service OR were still paying about $55 for dial up.
I don't know where you get your "stats" but 9 years ago, I was on 10MB RR for $49/mo. It wasn't unusual to get cable at full pipe-speed for 50 bucks. Then they started limiting the download speed, lowering service, and overselling nodes. Things have only gone downhill since the original cable broadband deployments.

••••••••••

MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
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join:2005-03-14
Katy, TX

MysticGogeta to FFH5

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to FFH5
I don't like Comcast but this is a very one sided arguement and it seems quite obvious that Martin is getting paid by Telecos and needs to be removed.
viperlmw
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viperlmw to FFH5

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said by FFH5:

Regulations never accomplish anything but a distortion of the natural marketplace.
Never? Even regs involving safety and health?

MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
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join:2005-03-14
Katy, TX

MysticGogeta

Premium Member

Re: Martin doing a good thing by capping Comcast's growth ?

They sure seem to be doing a good job monitoring imported goods from china.

telcolackey5
The Truth? You can't handle the truth
join:2007-04-06
Death Valley, CA

telcolackey5

Member

Wireless

My cell bill is higher than my TV bill. I use my TV more than my cell phone. Cell phone infrastructure is cheaper and does not have NFL like content price hikes in it. Can the government work on cell phones first if they are so worried about consumer prices?

This has less to do with consumer prices and more to do with the government wanting the same level of involvement in the day to day biz of cable as they do with telco's. They don't like that cable has been successfully getting into the telco industry without government involvement.

•••••••••
caco
Premium Member
join:2005-03-10
Whittier, AK

caco

Premium Member

He is making some powerful enemies

Even if he manages to get this thru it will end up in court and most likely over turned. He is being way to obvious in his dealings. This has to blow up in his face at some time. How can he justify this at a time that dish,ATT and Verizon are increasing video market share?

FFH5
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Tavistock NJ

1 recommendation

FFH5

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Re: He is making some powerful enemies

said by caco:

Even if he manages to get this thru it will end up in court and most likely over turned. He is being way to obvious in his dealings. This has to blow up in his face at some time. How can he justify this at a time that dish,ATT and Verizon are increasing video market share?
I agree. Even those who have NO SYMPATHY AT ALL for cable companies and the constant price hikes are starting to comment on the fact that Martin has got it in for the cable companies(Comcast in particular) and that he has dropped all pretense at being an objective regulator.

DotMac4
Shill H8r
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join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

DotMac4

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Re: He is making some powerful enemies

The telco shills were saying the exact same thing a few years ago when DSL line sharing rules came down.

Squeaky wheels get the grease and right now the attention is on the endless price hikes of CATV. If Comcast stood up to the channel extortionists at ABC and kept rates in check, the FCC would be paying them no attention.

telcolackey5
The Truth? You can't handle the truth
join:2007-04-06
Death Valley, CA

telcolackey5

Member

What's good for the goose....

"prohibit a cable company from controlling more than 30 percent of the market."

Multiple choice

Prohibit a ________ company from controlling more than 30 percent of the market

A) Satellite TV
B) Search Engine
C) Operating System
D) Telephone
E) Game System
F) MP3 Player
G) Online Auction
H) Cellular
I) Broadband Forum
J) Fast food hamburger
.
.
.
Z) All of the above

•••••••••••
xbbdc
join:2005-06-30
Hollywood, FL

xbbdc

Member

comcast ceo...

what does he have to say about the FCC and Martin? something recent... not old stuff..

DotMac4
Shill H8r
Premium Member
join:2007-10-26
Huntington Beach, CA

1 edit

DotMac4

Premium Member

Re: comcast ceo...

said by Brian Roberts :
Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!! Sniff sniff Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
somebodyelse5
join:2007-11-29

somebodyelse5

Member

wonder if this was part of a kickback deal

to att&t for warrantless wiretapping?
Storage_Guy
join:2006-04-30
Benton Harbor, MI

1 edit

Storage_Guy

Member

Cable Prices

It is funny that even with the price hikes people still continue to buy cable TV service, at what point is it not worth it to most people? Time Warner in my area charges $55 for their standard package which has about 70 channels. I just can't justify spending that much to watch TV.

Titus
Mr Gradenko
join:2004-06-26

Titus

Member

ROTFLM_MFAO

about anyone who believes a word the FCC says regarding anything in today's world! hahahahahaha!!!!

Scatcatpdx
Fur It Up
join:2007-06-22
Portland, OR

Scatcatpdx

Member

Capping Growth or Spreading Misery

The argument is arrogantly naïve. It does not take account of satellite and the growing Video over IP by Verizon and ATT.
Further, more it dooms the consumer in minority market to mediocrity. For example by protecting the little guy from Comcast ensures no motivation for the little guy to improve service. I am very glad Comcast bought out the little guy in my market because Digital Millennium Media refused to upgrade their system and provide cable broadband. If the FCC rules were in effect I would been stuck them with no other choice.

The real culprit is not Comcast but local franchising. The government needs to abolish franchising. Government should declare the conduits where cable and telecoms run their lines as easements where any company can run their cable to the customer property line, furthermore the property right of the company running the cable must be respected. Government must allow any company to run and hold or sell the cable in the conduits but never force sharing of the cable in the conduits.

••••••

Bwinston1
@tmodns.net

Bwinston1

Anon

Martin and Cooking the Books

I saw this video linked to in the comments section of Zats Not Funny. It's Commissioner Adelstein tearing into Martin and the rest of the Commission about manipulating data in order to continue his war on cable.

Here the link to Zats Not Funny:
»www.zatznotfunny.com/200 ··· bitions/

Also the post and other comments are funny as well.

Here's a link directly to the video:

»www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· oFv502jc

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