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Cable Companies Are . . .


. . . once again acting very badly:

First, what are they doing:

The New York Times reported last night that the cable giant has threatened to block popular online movie service Netflix unless new and extortionate tolls are paid by the company that streams its films. Earlier in the day, Comcast was caught red handed trying to smother the marketplace for competitive Internet modems designed for use on its network -- a blatant violation of fundamental Net Neutrality principles.

And so, what does it mean?

Look, these may sound like small things. So Comcast doesn’t want to connect to other networks or other devices without its terms being met - big deal. But these are precisely the kinds of schemes that the old pre-divestiture AT&T carried out with aplomb and great seriousness of purpose for decades.

This is how companies that don’t face competition act.

Why aren't we enforcing anti-trust laws? Seriously?


Sean Paul Kelley November 30, 2010 - 1:44pm
Sean Paul Kelley's diary | printer friendly version | digg
( categories: Net Neutrality )

Because.

Why aren't we enforcing anti-trust laws?

They're quaint.

Lesly November 30, 2010 - 1:56pm
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while it's perfectly OK

to call on enforcement of 93-year-old law in pursuing Julian Assange?

Dont'cha just love the consistency of our Government?

"In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice, it ain't." -- Yogi Berra

justadood December 1, 2010 - 2:32pm
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Comcast better not block NetFlix.

If they do, we'll have no options. Most of what we watch is NetFlix now and Comcast is our internet provider. Verizon doesn't work in our building.

I wonder if signing up for an anonymzing IP service would work...?

Bolo November 30, 2010 - 3:01pm
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Not the way it works

Comcast bills Level 3 each time a subscriber starts streaming video over their network, then Level 3 passes this fee unto Netflix, which then raises the rates of all subscribers to cover the increased costs of operation. It doesn't ultimately matter whether you personally connect to Netflix via Comcast or not, all Netflix subscribers are dinged equally. Hence, the Netflix service becomes more expensive and (the desired effect for Comcast is) the customers will switch to using Comcast video on demand as it is cheaper (and inferior.)

It is illegal for them to flat out block access to Netflix, but they are trying to make it expensive enough that the company cannot compete with the Comcast owned alternative service. Proper net neutrality would stop all these hijinks cold.

zot23 December 1, 2010 - 11:58am
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"Why aren't we enforcing

"Why aren't we enforcing anti-trust laws? Seriously"

That's easy - we have had 10 years of Republican Government and no change in site. Obama is as good a friend to the corporations as Bush ever hoped to be.

Raw Story is reporting that Obama exempted BP from environmental oversight, along with a slew of other companies.

Anti-trust laws are anti-business - causes uncertainty for businessmen - donchaknow.

docbradd November 30, 2010 - 4:14pm
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