[colug-432] Comcast and connectivity alternatives

[tom]

On 02/13/2014 09:58 AM, Angelo McComis wrote:
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Rob Funk <rfunk at funknet.net 
> <mailto: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 <http://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 <http://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

>
> Not to speak of proposed Comcast Time Warnermerger. Freepress.net 
> among others are making motions to oppose that.

Tom

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