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[FrostuTheNinja]

I have my speedtest history saved on my phone and man it boils my blood seeing the results. My favorite has to be the .03mbps download and .95mbps upload. Love calling customer support and hearing them puke, "well, your contract says speeds UP TO 10mbps. It's normal for it to drop that low."

Get fucked Century Link.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

So you're upset that an American publication doesn't put the words IN AMERICA on every article headline they write?

 

[RedSwirl]

My current internet speeds from the only broadband provider in my city:

I can't stream shit right now until they fix whatever the issue in the area is. I would pay double for Fios or anything else if I had the option.

Edit: Nevermind that's where the server is.

 

[Fury Sense]

agreed, access to internet should be considered a right in america

 

[RedSwirl]

I don't know. This argument is blowing very close to the 'teh Internet is a human right'. Businesses owe people nothing. They are service providers. ISP's function on fulfilling a want, NOT A NEED. People can function in society without being online. They really can.

I want to participate in the modern economy. I do participate in the modern economy. I enjoy the Internet. I like having a Fast Speed, which I appreciate I am lucky to have. I pay for this service, and if my provider makes faults or I am unhappy with the service, I complain or withdraw.

But make no mistake - equating it to heating, water and gas, semantically what people equate Utilities to be (regardless of how the reality is), is a dangerous game. My family would cope just fine at home with no Internet. I'm 31. Society was just fine before it, and it will be fine with whatever comes after.

There are already millions of people in this country who probably can't do their jobs without the internet. I'd say it's become at least as important as owning a telephone.

 

[The Dutch Slayer]

nice piece, I have been saying it for about 10 years now.

You want America to grow again? like grow 5% to 8% year over year.
Put down the hammer make everything common carriers put in fiber to the home as much as possible and see the the economy grow like it has not see since the late 90's.

Internet are the longs of the 21st century and the US are slowly but steady chocking it one merger and law by the time.

 

[J-Rzez]

Comcast puts so much money into Philadelphia (where I'm from) that they basically own the place.

Only cable provider is Comcast. They do everything they can to prevent comptetitors from selling in the city. You can't get Verizon FiOS in the city because of this. All you can get is satellite or Comcast.

Speeds are decent but prices are not :L

That's because PA is especially fucked in regards to things like this. You either get mega-comps like Comcast running a one man show, or smaller providers like Service Electric utterly monopolizing an area. Hell, Toyota tried to open an assembly plant in an industrial park and a small, yet dominate group in the area kept them out because Toyota was paying substantially higher wages than everyone else in the area.

PA is a fucking commercial wasteland. Corruption beyond belief.

 

[GillianSeed79]

Is Finland still the only country where internet access is a legal right?
The US could use that, i reckon.

People here freak out about poor people getting phones, food stamps and affordable healthcare. Internet access for everyone here would never fly.

Comcast really does suck though. I'm waiting for the day that they require you to subscribe to cable to get internet access. Right now I just have internet access through them. It's like $86/month and it's not even Xfiinity high speed. That's the highest speed I can get, because they don't offer Xfinity where I live. I previously had Verizon for internet access, but when I moved to my new apartment that is the equivalent of a few city blocks away I learned that I couldn't get Verizon there. A few blocks away.

I'm not complaining too much I guess. There are places where I live where you can't even get cable or DSL internet because there is no infrastructure in smaller, rural towns.
Cable companies usually have a monopoly anyway just because of the way the infrastructure works. You want broadband internet? You only have one choice because Comcast has the contract and installed the infrastructure.

I wonder if Google fiber will ever actually become a thing for the whole country at some point? It's kind of crazy to think how far behind our online infrastructure is in the U.S compared to other countries.

 

[The Cowboy]

There are already millions of people in this country who probably can't do their jobs without the internet. I'd say it's become at least as important as owning a telephone.

To add to this (for the UK at least), when looking for work in the UK, most jobs on the Job centre website require you to apply via either the job centre website system, via email or via another website - they're also making it a requirement over here to use it (the Job centres website), at the moment its requested, - but soon its required.

To make it worse, they're removing the Job centres phones and in some places removing the job points (things in the Job centres to search for jobs), so if your looking for a job and signing on in the UK, you pretty much need a way to access the internet.

 

[Ryck]

 

[Earendil]

Why are you so against free market capitalism?

Look at it from a different point of view please. My ONLY option where I live is CenturyLink. I pay $70 for 3Mb service, which most of the time is less than 1Mb. I work from home and cannot go without Internet service, unless I'd like to lose my job. I have literally no other option for internet. I don't even live in a rural area. I'm 10 minutes from a city of 200k people, with a major university.

"Free market capitalism" does nothing for me except hold me over a barrel, shoving a splintered mop handle up my anus.

 

[codhand]

My current internet speeds from the only broadband provider in my city:

I can't stream shit right now until they fix whatever the issue in the area is. I would pay double for Fios or anything else if I had the option.

cease payment on this immediately, and try a Verizon Mifi hotspot, or other device, Sprint, ATT hell anything, which will run you less money per month! and might actually work!!

my condolences

 

[LuchaShaq]

I'd rather have a Google dictatorship than a Comcast cox Verizon att oligarchy.

 

[Earendil]

I'd rather have a Google dictatorship than a Comcast cox Verizon att oligarchy.

I for one would welcome our new Fiber overlords.

 

[Espada]

I know they aren't considered a monopoly, but they might as well be. :-(

Yup, the collusion between companies is fucking bullshit. We've tried to switch to another ISP but apparently only Time Warner Cable is available in our location. Somehow these companies have decided to split things up and pretend to compete.

I don't put much hope in the FCC correcting this. They're corrupt as hell and way too close to the companies they're supposed to be regulating.

 

[Jack_AG]

I don't know. This argument is blowing very close to the 'teh Internet is a human right'. Businesses owe people nothing. They are service providers. ISP's function on fulfilling a want, NOT A NEED. People can function in society without being online. They really can.

I want to participate in the modern economy. I do participate in the modern economy. I enjoy the Internet. I like having a Fast Speed, which I appreciate I am lucky to have. I pay for this service, and if my provider makes faults or I am unhappy with the service, I complain or withdraw.

But make no mistake - equating it to heating, water and gas, semantically what people equate Utilities to be (regardless of how the reality is), is a dangerous game. My family would cope just fine at home with no Internet. I'm 31. Society was just fine before it, and it will be fine with whatever comes after.

Sure. We all ride horseback, still and use muskets. Makes sense, bro.

Let me call my family in Croatia with a landline. Since I dont have internet access, it will be an expensive call so I'll need a good job that pays well to support my long phone calls to family. Sadly, a majority of jobs I am qualified for and would love to apply for only accept online applications. Damn. Maybe I can study a new field to open up my choices but I already work 12 hour days, on the clock. Going to school with a commute would kill me. I'd get no sleep. I'd take an online course so I can study from home but fuck me, I can't get "on the line". I might as well just talk to my family once per month for a few minutes to save cash since I need a new used car. But they are so hard to find since nobody carries any AutoTrader magazines anymore. Anything I purchase has to be purchased from brick and mortar stores where I am at the mercy of the retailer, I am unable to get better deals or print coupons since I can't get online.

You are correct. Today is no different than the 70s. We can get along fine.

Yeah no. I agree its not a "right" but I believe no company should ever hold a fucking monopoly if for no other reason than limiting progress.

 

[PflargBlarg]

Internet situation is close to being as bad in Canada. Competition is a magical thing. I moved into a different building that has access to Novus (our local fiber guys, they only support apartment towers and such) and suddenly Shaw's prices were way lower to match them.

 

[1cmanny1]

My current internet speeds from the only broadband provider in my city:

I can't stream shit right now until they fix whatever the issue in the area is. I would pay double for Fios or anything else if I had the option.

Still around 5 times faster than my 80 dollars per month broadband.

 

[Vilam]

Nice article. I really hope this picks up more steam and outrage from people nationally.

 

[D4Danger]

Still around 5 times faster than my 80 dollars per month broadband.

how is that even possible

 

[BoboBrazil]

Nice article. I really hope this picks up more steam and outrage from people nationally.

Doubtful. People don't usually act on something until it affects them personally.

 

[liquidtmd]

Yeah no. I agree its not a "right" but I believe no company should ever hold a fucking monopoly if for no other reason than limiting progress.

Neither do I. My statement was fairly conservatitely stated and I'm not anti-progress. Im sad that people have mainly been sarcastic, snipey and made leaps of logic from my words that I really dont advocate either. Any progress in encouraging internet access for all is a positive thing. Examples posters have given in regards to jobs / recruitment functionality ring true.

I just try to keep perspective on things. Six years ago I was almost made homeless - it was a very difficult time and basic fundamental utilities were very limited. After a lot of work and effort, I live in a nice house with a lovely family around me. We have a good standard of living but that experience makes me conscious of my own priorities - and if things were being eliminated, I wouldn't be precious about the net access. And all my post was implying is that I hope people equally keep perspective on needs and wants when conversations about the nature of 'rights' is banded about.

That's all really. Ideally - yes, freedom of net for all.

 

[damac]

crazy to think 13+ years after I got my first dsl line in the bay area, that access would be worse. I got Comcast or uverse with bandwidth caps that would not allow a household to use Netflix without going over.

 

[Guevara]

I don't know. This argument is blowing very close to the 'teh Internet is a human right'. Businesses owe people nothing. They are service providers. ISP's function on fulfilling a want, NOT A NEED. People can function in society without being online. They really can.

I want to participate in the modern economy. I do participate in the modern economy. I enjoy the Internet. I like having a Fast Speed, which I appreciate I am lucky to have. I pay for this service, and if my provider makes faults or I am unhappy with the service, I complain or withdraw.

But make no mistake - equating it to heating, water and gas, semantically what people equate Utilities to be (regardless of how the reality is), is a dangerous game. My family would cope just fine at home with no Internet. I'm 31. Society was just fine before it, and it will be fine with whatever comes after.

Yeah exactly. I'm old enough to remember life before pervasive internet access. We did just fine. Internet access is important, but by equating it with water and electricity the argument falls apart.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Yeah exactly. I'm old enough to remember life before pervasive internet access. We did just fine. Internet access is important, but by equating it with water and electricity the argument falls apart.

The same things could have been said about water and electricity when they were first introduced. Of course Internet is a bit different in it's nature, but it is increasingly something that is becoming more expected and required, and that trend isn't going to change.

 

[LegendofJoe]

Yeah exactly. I'm old enough to remember life before pervasive internet access. We did just fine. Internet access is important, but by equating it with water Andre electricity the argument falls apart.

Water yes, but electricity is in the same boat as the internet.

 

[Guevara]

The same things could have been said water and electricity when they were first introduced. Of course Internet is a bit different in it's nature, but it is increasingly something that is becoming more expected and required, and that trend isn't going to change.

Yeah life before water, that was rough. Everybody died.

 

[entremet]

Yeah exactly. I'm old enough to remember life before pervasive internet access. We did just fine. Internet access is important, but by equating it with water and electricity the argument falls apart.

People said the same things about electricity. Candles still exist.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Yeah life before water, that was rough. Everybody died.

Who needs water flowing to your house when you can just grab a bucket and head over to the local river or well?

 

[b&jy77VjiKn$#F]

Save us google

"No."

 

[Muppet of a Man]

"No."

.

 

[fallagin]

We're in dire need of regulation. I really hope something gives soon cause these companies are really going way too far with their bullshit.

Dont count on it with republicans controlling the house for the foreseeable future.

 

[remnant]

agreed, access to internet should be considered a right in america

Is there anything that shouldn't be considered a right in america?

 

[LegendofJoe]

Is there anything that shouldn't be considered a right in america?

large businesses not having the right to protected profit? Because that's what we're arguing against here.

 

[DarkFlow]

wut?
100Mbit VDSL sais hello


but very good article otherwise

I've never seen that in the wild and we have U verse around here. They SAY you can get up to 45Mbps but the highest I've even seen to a home is 18.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

Your honest cable provider

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Starting a super pac is easy. Heck... anyone can do it! It's getting the millions in funding to bribe the politicians is what makes it difficult. If I do decide to create a super pac I will start by focusing on Los Angeles county and try to undo the BS we see here first. Basically I will need the super pac to get enough funds to air TV commercials promoting the change and fending off the ISP ads using FUD such as higher monthly rates.

So we basically need fundraising efforts of some sort...

My brother and I have been kicking ideas back and forth about starting a social activism fundraising tool like kickstarter to help with this very thing. If money is the name of the game in our political system (and it is) you might as well fight fire with fire.

This is a fantastic idea and I'm kinda kicking myself for not thinking of it first. You and your brother should pursue it.

 

[BigDug13]

Still around 5 times faster than my 80 dollars per month broadband.

1/5 of that speed is something in the neighborhood of 100kbps or less than 2x a 64k modem. Are you paying for ISDN or something?

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Your honest cable provider

Wow this is kinda perfect.

 

[McLovin]

Xfinity is ok where I live, but they do throttle streaming sites. Youtube barely ran until I found a work around. Netflix is pretty low quality too sometimes. If they did this crap with my online gaming I would drop them in a heart beat. Sucks too because I asked the installer if they throttled and he said no.

 

[remnant]

large businesses not having the right to protected profit? Because that's what we're arguing against here.

What protected profit? It's not like TWC and Comcast compete with each other.

 

[Taco_Human]

Xfinity is ok where I live, but they do throttle streaming sites. Youtube barely ran until I found a work around. Netflix is pretty low quality too sometimes. If they did this crap with my online gaming I would drop them in a heart beat. Sucks too because I asked the installer if they throttled and he said no.

Probably lying to you.

 

[Nokterian]

Still around 5 times faster than my 80 dollars per month broadband.

What? How?

 

[SneakyStephan]

America is the world article#341545443

 

[Doctoglethorpe]

It is a bit funny in that sad ironic way that most of the worlds biggest online tech companies are based here. Its like having boat manufacturers in the middle of a desert.


In a way I'm glad that things are getting worse right now. The worse it gets the more people will actually pay attention to it and the sooner we might actually fix it. Sad that that's how America functions these days but it is how it is.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

Yeah exactly. I'm old enough to remember life before pervasive internet access. We did just fine. Internet access is important, but by equating it with water and electricity the argument falls apart.

Calling it a utility is not equating it with water, although the argument could be made.

Could you survive in a cabin in the middle of Montana will well water and a gas generator? Probably. But would you be expected to become a productive member of society? Probably not.

Similarly, there's no way to expect people (not individual persons but people on a mass scale) can participate in modern education and the modern job market with poor or no access to the internet. Who cares if it's too geeky or sounds silly, or if it offends some GAFfer's sensibilities to equate it with water? It's a fact of life, and nations who don't accept it will come to regret it. They'll find that their labor force is way behind other nations' and that the new industry leaders and "job creators" will pop up on foreign soil. The US is dangerously close to that, if not there already.

Society was "fine" before Edison and Tesla as well, by the way.

 

[Hitokage]

Well, I'll be damned. I was always under the impression ComEd was all we had back when I was living in Chicago. And I know I didn't get to choose who to get my electricity from here in Indiana. But I'm all about adding competition.

Water and electricity are natural monopolies, which is why you need regulation in lieu of competition. Besides, the only differences to consider are price per unit and reliability of service. Power is power, until it goes out.

 

[DarkFlow]

America is the world article#341545443

Reads American site, bitches that it's about America.

 

[GK86]

America is the world article#341545443

Is it really that little?

 

[Hitokage]

To be fair, everyone. Canada is fucked worse than we are!

Not alone!