Republicans: Net Neutrality is an attack on our "basic freedoms"

[Hauldren Collider]

It's not that he doesn't like you, it's that he thinks you're wrong.

I think people are wrong all the time while still liking them.

Except that this is one in a string of posts where he blathers on with "HC is an idiot" beyond the usual troll insults that you engage in. I don't remember shooting his dog...

By the way Imran, I understand the conflict of interest. If the FTC can keep Microsoft from packaging certain software, surely they can prevent anticompetitive practices by cable companies. If I recall correctly, there's a history of similar things happening with railroad companies dating back around a hundred years and the FTC was created in part to deal with that.

[Arrian]

Keep the government's hands off my internet!!!

-Arrian

[Asher]

Except that this is one in a string of posts where he blathers on with "HC is an idiot" beyond the usual troll insults that you engage in. I don't remember shooting his dog...

By the way Imran, I understand the conflict of interest. If the FTC can keep Microsoft from packaging certain software, surely they can prevent anticompetitive practices by cable companies. If I recall correctly, there's a history of similar things happening with railroad companies dating back around a hundred years and the FTC was created in part to deal with that.

The problem is obvious, HC. The reason the internet ought to be regulated is the same reason utilities are -- you don't exactly have a lot of choice, so it's not an actual free market. It's an established duopoly in the vast majority of markets. Free market theory doesn't apply in the absence of a free market. It's even worse with cableco/telco ISPs because they do have obvious conflicts of interest. Rather than deferring this to government regulation via the FTC (which you know as well as I takes MANY YEARS and is ultimately quite toothless in most cases), it makes more sense (and likely saves taxpayers far more money) to regulate fairness to begin with.

I think you should agree it is absurd and anticompetitive for cablecos to throttle legal traffic to promote their own interests and products. You shouldn't have any problem with that being legislated, unless you actually are opposed to a free market.

[Arrian]

Odds HC doesn't like utilities being regulated?

-Arrian

[Koyaanisqatsi]

By the way Imran, I understand the conflict of interest. If the FTC can keep Microsoft from packaging certain software, surely they can prevent anticompetitive practices by cable companies. If I recall correctly, there's a history of similar things happening with railroad companies dating back around a hundred years and the FTC was created in part to deal with that.

Sure, years later, after the damage has been done and the competition is out of business. Assuming they actually bother to do it at all, since the monopolies or duopolies in question are being actively encouraged by many levels of government.

[Asher]

Alberta deregulated its power industry and now pays the highest electricity bills in the country while the executives of the power companies host rock stars at their mansions for private parties. *****in. BC has made a fortune off selling their cheaply-produced hydro electricity to Alberta, whose companies then charge high prices...

[giblets]

Alberta deregulated its power industry and now pays the highest electricity bills in the country while the executives of the power companies host rock stars at their mansions for private parties. *****in. BC has made a fortune off selling their cheaply-produced hydro electricity to Alberta, whose companies then charge high prices...

I didn't know freedom was so expensive.

[Asher]

I didn't know freedom was so expensive.

But hey, it's a free market. We could always just switch providers by moving to BC, amiright?

Same thing with cablecos. If you don't like Comcast filtering your internet, just move to somewhere that has TimeWarner!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Except that this is one in a string of posts where he blathers on with "HC is an idiot"

Mostly because you post idiotic things.

[DinoDoc]

Being against or at least suspicious of net neutrality isn't in and of itself an untenable position. I've read semi-reasonable arguments on both sides of the 'debate.' However, I will agree it doesn't seem as if HC is putting his points forward in the best way.

[DaShi]

I've read conclusive arguments for net neutrality that blow away any arguments against it out of the water. They also say you suck your thumb at night.

[DinoDoc]

Ha! I don't do that at night.

[DaShi]

Oh right. I misread that article. You stick them up your butt at night.

[DinoDoc]

Only during the weekend.

[-Jrabbit]

I find it odd that HC rails at the supposed regulatory overreach of the FCC, then suggests that the issue can be addressed... by exending the reach of the FTC.

Related:

Sure, years later, after the damage has been done and the competition is out of business. Assuming they actually bother to do it at all, since the monopolies or duopolies in question are actively directing many levels of government.

Fixed.