Congratulations on your Big Win today, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Cox, etc!

[mr_lebowski]

Protip: If you want more people on The Facebook to see your post ... preface it with "Congratulations" ...

Now, for the rest of the world ... Allow me to describe for you what the loss of Net Neutrality actually looks like.

Imagine ComCast is your internet provider ... you're trying to talk ... to them ...

Oh ... you wanted ... Netflix? You don't want to just sign up for Comcast Streaming Video, for a mere $5/month, everything included? Well, in that case, it'll be $10/month extra on your internet bill. Plus whatever is your Netflix fee ... so, you may want to rethink that!

And you want Spotify, too? Then you'll be needing our 'Premium Streaming Music Package' ... which is $7.50/month extra. And that's in addition to your Spotify fee. You do know there's Comcast Music, which is only an extra $2.00, right?

Wait, you don't just want to use Comcast Search Portal, free with your internet? It's chock-full of exclusive offers, available only to 'Your Comcast Internet' subscribers!

ANYways ... So, you actually want to go to ... GOOGLE? Huh!?

Well, with Your Comcast Internet Service, you CAN ... for merely an extra $10/month, as part of our Premium Search Package! (Disclaimer: Links to External Websites, not part of Your Comcast Internet Service, may not be visible and/or functional).

And you even want to be able to visit FACEBOOK? You do know there's Comcast Social Media, right? It comes WITH YOUR INTERNET! It's GREAT! ALL your friends are there! You should try it! I mean sure, we'll LET you go to Facebook ... and that's only an extra $10/month, but Comcast Social Media is where it's at!

And if you want the Pronz, well ... okay ... we don't have that, but that'll be $20/month extra. You'll also need to sign this waiver first ...

And oh, by the way, we have an exclusive agreement with Amazon, so we don't offer 'other places to shop' ... such sites aren't available on Your Comcast Internet Service. We're certain you'll enjoy your Amazon shopping experience, however. Please see Amazon for exclusive offers available only to Your Comcast Internet Service subscribers!

Also, that article that was critical of Comcast's business practices, that you heard about on Twitter ... yeah ... sorry, that article isn't available on Your Comcast Internet Service. You can, for the low, low price of only $200/month, however, have access to "ALL* THE INTERNET'!"

Did you want to sign up for our "ALL* THE INTERNET" Service? Operators are standing by!!!

Though, if that is too costly we do also offer a more budget-conscious 'News Politics' package, where you can visit sites such as the Washington Post, Breitbart News, MSNBC, Fox News, HuffPo, even Stormfront ... whatever is your fancy! It's our most popular plan, only an addt'l $30/month. Please contact our Operators to Upgrade Your Comcast Internet Service ... TODAY!

You get the friggin' picture? Elections ... have consequences ...

* subject to bandwidth limitations in any case where Comcast provides similar services, either for free, or a low addt'l price, and restrictions based on Exclusive Comcast Agreements, and other restrictions

[PoliticAverse]

1. Because that is what the Internet was like in 2015 before "net neutrality". Oh wait, it wasn't.

But maybe you should dump Comcast if you are having issues with them. If you can't dump them
because they are your only Internet provider option then you've discovered the real Internet
problem - lack of competition at the "last mile".

[mr_lebowski]

2. Oh, so you believe prior to 2015, there was no 'Net Neutrality'?

Are you thinking Obama created The 'Net Neutrality' Concept in 2015?

Are you saying that you think that what just happened only means 'everything goes back to what it was prior to 2015'?

Nobody would be freaking out like they are ... if that were the case.

But yeah ... if there was 'real competition', this wouldn't be so much of a a problem, you're right on that. BUT THERE ISN'T.

And we're even further from it ... NOW.

Even if the worst that happens is the Portugal situation (which is not as bad as what I describe, as clarified here):

https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/22/16691506/portugal-meo-internet-packages-net-neutrality-ajit-pai-plan

The whole 'zero-rating' concept is still a far shot worse than pretty much anything we've seen allowed in the US thus far ... and at least as long as the GOP and Trump are in charge, I think it's safe to say ... we're NOT going to like the outcome as consumers. If you think these clowns aren't shooting for a less-consumer-friendly version vs what the EU allows? You're cray, put it that way.

[PoliticAverse]

3. That thing about Portugal that circulated was rated "mostly false" by Snopes.

Portugal has "net neutrality" and the graphic shown was about users adding data to their mobile data
plan data caps not about about allowing access to specific services.

Data caps aren't covered by net neutrality.

https://www.snopes.com/portugal-net-neutrality/

[mr_lebowski]

5. I linked a friggin article explaining the whole thing there ... guess you didn't click ...

[onenote]

4. If the internet access service market is as inelastic as you assume

why wouldn't Comcast simply raise prices for everyone rather than go to the expense and risk of creating and marketing a bunch of different options, some of which apparently would be offered below cost (it costs money to license content for movie and music services and those content owners aren't going to give it away to Comcast for their service at prices below what they're getting from other services).

A far more realistic scenario -- and one that also harms consumers -- is that Comcast goes to Netflix, Amazon, FB, etc. and says, "Hey, you guys are making money hand over fist using our internet access service to reach your customers (who either pay you a subscription fee or make you money through ad sales or commissions on product sales). We want a piece of that action." Comcast won't even threaten to block these services if they don't pay. Rather, they'll use their controls over bandwidth and speed to offer these services pay to play deals that ultimately will raise the cost of those services to consumers (and still give some competitive advantage to Comcast with respect to the content services it makes sense for them to provide to consumers).

[mr_lebowski]

6. They probably can't compete with Amazon, but Spotify & Netflix?

They're not making that much, if any, actual profit. They could easily be choked out of business by the Comcast's and AT&T's of the world. Without those companies to pay the content owners, guess who's left? Comcast & AT&T, etc. Then content providers have no leverage. They may have to start charging so little for licensing that they themselves end up 'bought out'. By AT&T & Comcast.

Abolishing NN is an invitation to MONOPOLY. It's that simple. And monopoly is never good for the consumer.

[onenote]

11. I agree that the repeal opens the door for anticompetitive behavior

I just think it will be accomplished through a different set of actions than the ones you suggest.

[brooklynite]

7. Or, you could leave Comcast

I’m willing to bet the average person complaining about cable/internet service doesn’t seriously evaluate their alternatives.

[Bengus81]

8. LOL...yeah they do,at least where I live in the MONOPOLY of COX

We have linked neighborhoods on a chat board called Nextdoor and there is never a kind word from the ABUSE dealt out at the hands of COX and their is plenty of discussion. Not just on their Internet but cable TV as well. You can NOT get a real price from them on their website--every price showing is just a "deal" that has a lifespan of 3-6 months and then BAM.

Most of us are too far from a central office for DSL plus who the hell wants to call up AT&T for Internet,they're as bad if not worse than Cox. I don't like the way a dish looks bolted to a roof and many HOA's won't allow them. There are a couple of wireless companies out there but they are dead slow,probably good enough to get on line and pay a bill or two but nothing else.

I've seen this lack of competition in true cable HSI coming for years and the price will do nothing but climb and climb. Cox raises prices EVERY Feb like clockwork even during the Bush depression. If we had a choice of two or three the story would be different. I still don't understand why Internet through power lines won't work seeing how our electric company retrieves all residential energy usage through those same lines. We haven't had meter readers for at least five years where I live.

[mr_lebowski]

12. Lol ... yeah. I used Comcast as a generic example, we actually have Cox here as well ...

And most of our area also has CenturyLink DSL available at max speeds between 5Mb/s and 40Mb/s (those who get that 40 speed are in a few, very small areas as it requires them to lay fiber). At my home, '20Mb/s' is the fastest (really more like 14-18 on a very good day) which is what we have.

So at least there's 'some' competition, but not much. With only two ISP's and only 1 truly 'high speed' one (Cox), it's not nearly 'enough' competition.

[hunter]

9. Yep. Quit Comcast and fight for alternative ISP service, especially local service providers.

The business models of cable television and 20th century phone providers, the so-called tel-com industry, are obsolete so they have to buy politicians to enforce their monopolies and exclude competitors.

I told Comcast to go away a long time ago, years before they offered internet service in our community. I pay people to take garbage away from my house, not to deliver it.

[LeftInTX]

10. We only have one provider where I live: Spectrum/TWC

And I don't live in a small town.
I live in San Antonio, TX

We do have Google Fiber in two neighborhoods.
Yes, only two neighborhoods.
Maybe Google will expand after this ruling.