Verge: The Internet is fucked
- Thread starter GK86
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You do know the internet is more than just your job and social media, right?
If you want the internet gone, then yes, making it a utility is probably a bad idea.
I think it's in the interest of the US citizens and its economy to have the best internet possible, and the current model is failing to achieve that pretty spectacularly.
State utility boards have tight control to make sure water and electricity companies justify all of their costs. It is different state to state, but pure profit going back to the company is very limited, the rest has to go back to rate payers. Rate increases or service changes, like an arbitrary download cap in the internet realm, would require extensive filings with evidence for hy they need to be in place. Then a public hearing would be held do all the negatives could be drawn out.
Also, that Compete Coalition mentioned above is backed by large industrial customers, the only group that would stand to benefit from deregulated energy. Residential customers do not benefit, and in many states they have been hurt by electric competition due to the loss of the subsidization by industry.
I love how some of you lot think that your view of the world is the only one. Wake up. Others have different feelings and opinions. And that's ok. Just because YOU would be ok without any Internet access, doesn't mean everyone else would too. And no, just for the record, we're not just using it for Facebook and Twitter. I don't even use either of them. Some of us have businesses that require the Internet. My children are home schooled, over the Internet. I am a developer who works from home, over the Internet. When I lost my job last year and had to look for a new one, both companies I had multiple interviews with needed me to be online for VOIP conferencing. I couldn't just go to the library for that.
I'm sick and tired of the ridiculous attitude people have of "This is how is it in my life, so everyone else's life must be the same." The world isn't black and white. What works for you, doesn't always work for someone else. Open your eyes and get your heads out of your asses. Yes, your opinion matters, but it's not the only one.
I get that, and I have no problem with anyone who says that they personally do not need it. It's the people who are dismissive of the needs of others simply because they could do with out that I have an issue with.
I'm sick and tired of the ridiculous attitude people have of "This is how is it in my life, so everyone else's life must be the same." The world isn't black and white. What works for you, doesn't always work for someone else. Open your eyes and get your heads out of your asses. Yes, your opinion matters, but it's not the only one.
I get that, and I have no problem with anyone who says that they personally do not need it. It's the people who are dismissive of the needs of others simply because they could do with out that I have an issue with.
BoboBrazil
Member
Internet is a damn requirement for school now. Everything is done online. The government will never do anything about it as long as lobbyists are allowed to line politicians pockets and theyve actually made it illegal to outlaw lobbying or do anything about it.
The Cowboy
Member
I'm going with being cheap and scheming (cheap to save money, scheming to use this to issue more sanctions), over here they seem to be more interested in sanctioning benefits (cutting all benefits for months at a time) instead of helping people get a job (like I said, they're removing everything that helps you) - it was quite a shock when I learned my local job centre was removing phones and job points.
When (at the time) I asked how I was meant to search/apply for jobs under this setup (as I had been told to use the website), I was told "the local libraries allow you a free 1 hour a day on computers - use those".
The problem is that people not being online is detrimental to society as a whole due to slower communication and innovation.
Bboy AJ
My dog was murdered by a 3.5mm audio port and I will not rest until the standard is dead
Do you have an issue with heat, gas, sewage, and electricity being considered like water?
Anyone who doesn't think the internet should be treated as a utility or that it's merely a luxury should describe to us how a scenario where the internet entirely going down plays out. I'm guessing it would be pretty catastrophic, for the economy, for businesses, and an enormous change for the lives of hundreds of millions of people. This shit shouldn't be in the hands of a couple monopolistic corporations.
People die if they don't have safe drinking water. It's a big cause of death worldwide. People die if they don't have reliable heating from gas or electric. You see this every winter.
The internet is not like these things.
I was unaware that "you might die if you don't have it" is in the definition of a utility.
Majority of gaf is American. If there was a thread title that said president signs some piece of legislation would you get angry the title didn't specify which president? Get over it.
Yeah it is, those utilities are now highly dependent on the internet for providing service. Many companies would not be able to run at all, no credit/debit transactions at the grocery/department stores. It is an essential part of the US infrastructure and economy.
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