[colug-432] Comcast and connectivity alternatives

[Angelo McComis]

On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Rob Funk <rfunk at funknet.net> wrote:
>
>  > http://www.cablemover.com/   Type in your address only (not email!),
> and it
> > will search and scan and tell you what is available in your area.  This
> > assumes you're expecting to bundle cable and internet service.  As a
> > standalone service, DSL is really the only other option, and it's never
> > above 5-10mbps, which you might as well sign up for a 4G LTE hotspot and
> > call it a day.
>
> Heh, that site just confirmed that T-W is my only cable option. I like
> the concept though. It just needs to expand to other transport media.
>
>
​That's kinda where the speedtest.net site comes in handy - It tells you
what other ISPs are in the general vicinity - you can then see which 3 or 4
(sadly, only 3 or 4) other players are in the area, and do some calling
around. Unfortunately, right now, it's a menu with only one option on it
for a lot of us.​



> > Keep in mind, Comcast is not going to come in and pull out all of TWC's
> > finished work, fire all their people, and replace with their own. (yes,
> some
> > of that will happen in the spirit of "economy of scale" like in HR,
> Finance,
> > management... goes without saying)  They're likely to keep the @x.rr.com
> > domains because people don't know how to migrate their emails, they're
> > likely to keep all the set top and modems and such will all stay the
> same.
> >
> > I believe (and I hope I'm correct) that all we current customers will
> see is
> > just a new name on the envelope for sending the bill to each month.  At
> > least for the first 3 or so years after the deal closes.
>
> I'm more concerned about corporate policy, particularly in slowing or
> blocking things they don't like or things that compete with their
> products. If we can persuade the FCC to reclassify them as telecom
> services then I won't be too concerned, but until then I can't trust
> them.
>
> And yes I have the same concerns with T-W, but less so because T-W is
> smaller (less powerful) and doesn't also own a huge media company.
>
>
Really - the same concern we all share with regard to network neutrality.

With all of the constant investment being done by carriers as they refresh
and upgrade their POPs, seeing the Netflix index of ISP is very chilling.
 Why are the speeds going down, when everyone is investing and building
better/faster/stronger?

http://ispspeedindex.netflix.com/

It could be this... although as it points out, it's difficult to prove...

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/02/verizon-could-be-throttling-netflix-and-amazon-but-theres-no-actual-evidence-of-it/

With Comcast owning NBC, there's definitely some concern for preference
over allowing NBC and their programming/advertising to have unfair
programming advantage.  I felt the same about TWC up until they were spun
out from under the media conglomerate in 2009. ​

​Angelo​
​​
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