

tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA 1 recommendation tshirt Premium Member "Comcast can... " Comcast currently has 21.5 million HSI customers... Do they really believe another 3 million or so will tip the scales and all destroy life on earth?

The fact that they MIGHT serve up to 40% of the market means all others aren't doing their part OR that in those market were Comcast directly competes they are the provider of choice for the actual consumers served.



gar187er

I do this for a living

join:2006-06-24

Seattle, WA gar187er Member Re: "Comcast can... " take that common sense thinking and leave! you will only anger the natives here!!!

sonicmerlin

join:2009-05-24

Cleveland, OH sonicmerlin Member Re: "Comcast can... " said by gar187er: take that common sense thinking and leave! you will only anger the natives here!!! Ho ho ho, you r so funniez.



KennyWest

@98.28.97.x KennyWest Anon Re: "Comcast can... " ass It's true. The fact is, Comcast competes against none of these companies that are cited they would destroy. That's the fact and main point that people on here forget. You don't have the option of Comcast or TWC right now. You never will even if they stay apart. But the fact is, if TWC doesn't get what they want currently with Comcast, they can and would end up selling to someone else or start selling off areas/regions to anyone else, Mediacom anyway? Suddenlink? CableOne? Sure! You'll take the smaller carriers and the caps that you claim are to keep Netflix in check over another company that actually spends the money and upgrades their networks for the public. TWC does NONE of that had much of the network hasn't been upgraded for more than 10 years, unless they purchased the network and it was a one way system at the time of purchase, such as Fremont, Ohio. And then only half the city was redone and TWC WOH Division decided to stop pumping in the $$$ and MidOhio/Central Ohio only seen $$$$$ off the customers and still half ass network in many of the areas. Even NEO/WPA in the Adephia region sucks because NEO didn't want to keep the upgrades going that Adephia left off at.



treich

join:2006-12-12 treich Member Re: "Comcast can... " Well when Adelphia was in Coldwater/Celina Ohio the whole system was total CRAP so TWC spent crap load of money to fix the system and now we are post to get the next upgrade which is the 100meg service soon because Lima Ohio already got that speed upgrade.

sonicmerlin

join:2009-05-24

Cleveland, OH 2 recommendations sonicmerlin to tshirt

Member to tshirt

said by tshirt: Comcast currently has 21.5 million HSI customers... Do they really believe another 3 million or so will tip the scales and all destroy life on earth?

The fact that they MIGHT serve up to 40% of the market means all others aren't doing their part OR that in those market were Comcast directly competes they are the provider of choice for the actual consumers served.



Your use of "provider of choice" is rather humorous, given Comcast's horrible customer rating. More like "only choice" or "provider of last resort", since Comcast "competes" for the most part with DSL, a far inferior service.



Are you seriously trying to argue that adding 3 million more customers to the behemoth is okay because it won't dramatically change Comcast's already burgeoning power?



Weren't you the one who proclaimed your preference for a nation-wide cable monopoly? Ah the sweet smell of willful ignorance.Your use of "provider of choice" is rather humorous, given Comcast's horrible customer rating. More like "only choice" or "provider of last resort", since Comcast "competes" for the most part with DSL, a far inferior service.Are you seriously trying to argue that adding 3 million more customers to the behemoth is okay because it won't dramatically change Comcast's already burgeoning power?Weren't you the one who proclaimed your preference for a nation-wide cable monopoly?



tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA tshirt Premium Member Re: "Comcast can... " said by sonicmerlin: Ah the sweet smell of willful ignorance. said by sonicmerlin: for the most part with DSL, a far inferior service said by sonicmerlin: Weren't you the one who proclaimed your preference for a nation-wide cable monopoly?

... at which point UTILITY status might be warranted.

I just believe CABLE is the wire provider closest to achieving that goal. Perhaps at your house (maybe it was a fart )as I said "maybe the best available choice"Not exactly, I called for nationwide COMPARABLE wired plant.... at which point UTILITY status might be warranted.I just believe CABLE is the wire provider closest to achieving that goal.



Roger

@107.194.33.x Roger to tshirt

Anon to tshirt

In what market does comcast directly compete with anyone? I don't think the comcast hate is really about the prices or even the terrible service it's about the lack of choice that most consumers face and the fact that we are a captive audience.



tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA tshirt Premium Member Re: "Comcast can... " said by Roger : ....the lack of choice that most consumers face and the fact that we are a captive audience.

Lower the bar to let DSL, or wireless seem ok?

Or maybe let Cable set the standard, and see if Google and fiber and LTE can and WILL compete. So kneecapping the one that is trying will solve that problem?Lower the bar to let DSL, or wireless seem ok?Or maybe let Cable set the standard, and see if Google and fiber and LTE can and WILL compete.

mikesco8

join:2006-02-17

Southwick, MA 2 recommendations mikesco8 Member Re: "Comcast can... " Every comment you make is pro Comcast. You are either an extreme fanboy or paid by them to spew your propaganda. Comcast is not helping any consumers. I currently am serves by Charter and if this goes through my bill goes up at least $15 per month between Comcast modem rental fee and their high charges. No Thanks. I hope this get blocked as it is anti-competitive!



KennyWest

@98.28.97.x KennyWest Anon Re: "Comcast can... " How is it anti-competitive???? They don't compete!!! Competition means you have choices, you'll never have choices for cable unless you have a crazy overbuilder.



And if you don't wish to pay for your modem's rental fee, buy a modem, its cheaper and better!!!!



And just because someone is in favor of something why do they have to get paid by that company?? The same could be for Karl, he LOVES Google, so does that mean he gets a pay check from them every other week on top of what Justin gets paid for their ads and marketing info that DSLR sells to Goog????



Get over the paid troll and come up with something new. This will go through and nothing is wrong with it.

mikesco8

join:2006-02-17

Southwick, MA 1 recommendation mikesco8 Member Re: "Comcast can... " If is wasn't for the fact that Comcast has been shown to pay special interest groups that either sound pro consumer or don't have any Idea what they are endorsing, I wouldn't bring up such a question. The fact is I am highly convinced that based on their actions Comcast would certainly use their employees or those who lobby for them to post pro-Comcast rhetoric on a board like this.

What we need to allow for competitors to lease the cable lines at a fair rate just like the Government forced the telephone companies to do. Also their is a difference between not having competition and acting ant-competitive, I would suggest that Comcast takes advantage of their monopoly by gouging their customers, far worse than Charter.

your moderator at work hidden :



Zenit

The system is the solution

Premium Member

join:2012-05-07

Purcellville, VA Zenit to mikesco8

Premium Member to mikesco8

Re: "Comcast can... " The fact that companies like Comcast can go out of control and cause a mess with their lobbying and special interest groups shows how broken our system is.



Comcast should never have became this powerful.



ieolus

Support The Clecs

join:2001-06-19

Danbury, CT ieolus to KennyWest

Member to KennyWest

Is competition only one way?



As the article states, letting Comcast grow big enough to dictate content prices will further degrade any competition that does exist.



tim_k

Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey

Premium Member

join:2002-02-02

Stewartstown, PA tim_k to KennyWest

Premium Member to KennyWest

said by KennyWest : How is it anti-competitive???? They don't compete!!! Competition means you have choices, you'll never have choices for cable unless you have a crazy overbuilder. Maybe I'm wrong, but every market for cable, don't they have to get a franchise agreement with the local government? And aren't other cable companies able to bid on that contract? If so, then not having other companies able to bid will mean bad news for consumers.



Roger

@107.194.33.x Roger to tshirt

Anon to tshirt

I have zero problem with comcast making money or even overcharging customers they are doing what's best for them and that's the system we live in. What I have a problem with is how they bribe our politicians to help protect local monopolies and the way they stifle competition see the Spectrum story. I think this merger is not in the public good. I know it won't lessen competition, but think about that in what other business do the first and second place companies not compete? This isn't the fault of comcast it's the fault of our sorry politicians and their love for money. I'll stand by my statement the lack of competition is what consumers are reacting to in the disdain for this merger.



The Limit

Premium Member

join:2007-09-25

Denver, CO The Limit to tshirt

Premium Member to tshirt

LTE will never compete with fixed line services. I could see LTE competing with satellite services.



There's a real capacity limit to LTE.

shmerl

join:2013-10-21 shmerl to Roger

Member to Roger

quote: In what market does comcast directly compete with anyone? Video delivery for instance. Video delivery for instance.



Zenit

The system is the solution

Premium Member

join:2012-05-07

Purcellville, VA Zenit to tshirt

Premium Member to tshirt

While I do understand why people may hate Comcast so much, I don't share that feeling. They have done well deploying new technology and keeping ahead of the curve with their HSI.

After all, they were the first to begin deploying IPv6 on a widespread scale.



Other ISPs are still twiddling their thumbs on that.

shmerl

join:2013-10-21 shmerl to tshirt

Member to tshirt

Point is, they are already too big. And already bad. Making them any bigger will make things worse. That's it in TL;DR.

tmc8080

join:2004-04-24

Brooklyn, NY tmc8080 to tshirt

Member to tshirt

Making a cable company bigger won't encourage telcos-- which are a HUGE part of the problem any more willing to deploy fiber optics to the consumer which is EXACTLY what's needed to be done for more than a decade. - by default (the likely default will be bankruptcy of the Telco industry-- Verizon included).



Zenit

The system is the solution

Premium Member

join:2012-05-07

Purcellville, VA Zenit Premium Member Re: "Comcast can... " Nobody to blame for the failure of the telcos than the telcos themselves. They got greedy and slowed or stopped upgrades totally, ceding their natural markets to the Cable providers.



The telcos knew Cable would catch up with HFC, and actually surpass their twisted pair networks for a very long time now (at least since the 80s) and still did nothing, or implemented limited measures like VZ's incomplete FIOS rollout or AT&T's VDSL2 band-aid.







IowaCowboy

Supermarket Hero

Premium Member

join:2010-10-16

Springfield, MA ARRIS SB6183

Netgear R8000

IowaCowboy Premium Member They should be broken up They should be broken up into the companies they bought out. For example, before AT&T Broadband, Springfield, MA was served by MediaOne so the post divestiture company in this scenario serving my area would be MediaOne.



This would be the scenerio where Comcast would have to spinoff their assets into a bunch of smaller more manageable companies.



That would be similar to how Bell System was broken up, into smaller companies that were associated with the bigger company.



tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA tshirt Premium Member Re: They should be broken up said by IowaCowboy: ...Comcast would have to spinoff their assets into a bunch of smaller more manageable companies.





In fact, business customers are pouring in, and entertainment ( video, film and theme parks) seem quite healthy, and residential HSI continues to grow.

You can't go back AT&T wanted out of the cable business, now TWC now wants out..

Does ANYONE see another more qualified buyer ready to serve those customers? But they are MANAGING their assets very well according to their shareholders, and providing reasonable value according to their customers (who aren't actually leaving in droves, despite the typical "cord cutter" grumble you see here)In fact, business customers are pouring in, and entertainment ( video, film and theme parks) seem quite healthy, and residential HSI continues to grow.You can't go back AT&T wanted out of the cable business, now TWC now wants out..Does ANYONE see another more qualified buyer ready to serve those customers?

shmerl

join:2013-10-21 930.5 953.2

shmerl Member Re: They should be broken up quote: But they are MANAGING their assets very well according to their shareholders It doesn't matter how they are managing their assets. What matters is how much weight they have on the market. If it's too big and disproportional, it means they have some level of monopolistic control.



For example it would be healthy to separate their media business as well as video distribution from their ISP business to remove the conflict of interests. It doesn't matter how they are managing their assets. What matters is how much weight they have on the market. If it's too big and disproportional, it means they have some level of monopolistic control.For example it would be healthy to separate their media business as well as video distribution from their ISP business to remove the conflict of interests.



tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA tshirt Premium Member Re: They should be broken up said by shmerl: If it's too big and disproportional, ... said by shmerl: separate their media business as well as video distribution from their ISP business to remove the conflict of interests

You love Blackouts and endless price hikes from your favorite shows... right?



That little bit of leverage is the only chance to keep content cheap. And yet they are intending to stay below the same 30% the FCC thought was importantYes, it is much better to have yet another distributor to be held hostage by CONTENT providers.You love Blackouts and endless price hikes from your favorite shows... right?That little bit of leverage is the only chance to keep content cheap.



ieolus

Support The Clecs

join:2001-06-19

Danbury, CT Netgear R6400

ieolus Member Re: They should be broken up said by tshirt: Yes, it is much better to have yet another distributor to be held hostage by CONTENT providers. THAT is your argument against breaking up Comcast's cable and HSI business?



why23

@155.247.166.x why23 to tshirt

Anon to tshirt

Such BS. Customers don't have a choice or they would leave. Worst rated company on surveys.

Kearnstd

Space Elf

Premium Member

join:2002-01-22

Mullica Hill, NJ Kearnstd to IowaCowboy

Premium Member to IowaCowboy

They should at a minimum be forced to spin off NBC, it is never good to let a cable company own a content producer. In fact we should also start breaking apart the content companies and make them smaller and limit the number of channels they can own. The reason we can get held hostage to blackouts is because so few companies own the lion's share of channels. They can force bundling at high costs, This is why sports channels are not stuffed off into sports packages, The companies that own them also own other basic cable and they force us to pay for a dozen sports channels or you cannot carry the other dozen channels they own.



Flyonthewall

@206.248.154.x Flyonthewall Anon If they spin off Internet from the Cable company, I approve this merger. As long as they pull the bias out of the equation I would have no problem with this merger myself. The problem is that they provide both avenues and control both that makes this a very bad merger for consumers.



davidc502

join:2002-03-06

Mount Juliet, TN 2 edits davidc502 Member Bottom Line



Most Republicans don't want regulation or the government telling them what they can and cant do. The idea that they "government" is going to tell Comcast that they can't merge goes against their own values. In today's political environment, long elected, known good Republicans are having to prove they are 'Conservative' enough against Tea Party challengers. They are not going to go against conservative 'values' and risk giving ammunition to political challengers on both sides of the isle.



Everyone can continue to complain, but unless something big happens, this merger's going through.



Politics in this country sucks! The bottom line is everyone can bring up a million reasons why Comcast and TWC shouldn't merge, but until you convince the Republicans who now control half of Congress, and will probably soon control the Senate, this merger is going to go through.Most Republicans don't want regulation or the government telling them what they can and cant do. The idea that they "government" is going to tell Comcast that they can't merge goes against their own values. In today's political environment, long elected, known good Republicans are having to prove they are 'Conservative' enough against Tea Party challengers. They are not going to go against conservative 'values' and risk giving ammunition to political challengers on both sides of the isle.Everyone can continue to complain, but unless something big happens, this merger's going through.Politics in this country sucks!



ctaranto

join:2011-12-14

MA ctaranto Member AT&T merger with an organic garden food MediOne back in 2000...



»www.amazon.com/Green-Pla ··· 06XTQGLO



Nothing wrong with that. ...the government's blocking of AT&T andback in 2000...Nothing wrong with that.



economist1

@46.183.219.x economist1 Anon Using Net Neutrality for Negotiation "Comcast can extract payment for interconnection by allowing the routes into its network to congest, blocking or degrading an OVDs access to a substantial share of its current or potential customers. There have been episodes of sustained congestion on Comcasts network," states the authors. "When companies have paid to improve congestion issues, the congestion problems have gone away.



»www.cnet.com/news/net-co ··· netflix/



When Netflix obtained financial benefit in their contract relationships and move the traffic, the congestion problems have gone away. These are not extracted payments. These are extracted concessions in business negotiations.



»blog.streamingmedia.com/ ··· ong.html



Like many in this technical and complext debate, these economists were most likely provided only 1/2 of the facts and did not understand the technical realities that senders of traffic control the performance of their traffic through a highly competitive transit market with many choices for delivery. This is equivalent to Fedex driving all of their delivery trucks on the same on-ramp and blaming the highway for congestion. They ignore the fact that there are many other options to enter the highway and that other CDNs and video providers are able to figure it out (without having these problems). Netflix wants to place blame for the situations that they created (and can correct) as part of business leverage.



It is also important to remind that this not only impacts Netflix, their real-time traffic congestion decisions negativly impact VoIP 911 calls, commercial VPNs and gaming traffic using the same path.



When entities use their real-time Internet steering power to negatively impact services for their benefit we have a whole new Net Neutrality problem that consumers should be just as concerned about. Much of the consternation around leverage has been based on what was originally a ISP hypothetical and turned into an actual situation.The problem is, few recognize that it is NOT the ISPs that make changes to create these situations. Netflix modified their traffic to cause the routes into ISPs networks to congest through traffic manipulation of 1/3 of the Internet. Broadband customers dont request this to happen . Netflix configures it to happen. There have been measured examples of sudden congestion created, and relieved by Netflix traffic manipulation on multiple networks (not just Comcast) measured by MIT and CAIDA.When Netflix obtained financial benefit in their contract relationships and move the traffic, the congestion problems have gone away. These are not extracted payments. These are extracted concessions in business negotiations.Like many in this technical and complext debate, these economists were most likely provided only 1/2 of the facts and did not understand the technical realities that senders of traffic control the performance of their traffic through a highly competitive transit market with many choices for delivery. This is equivalent to Fedex driving all of their delivery trucks on the same on-ramp and blaming the highway for congestion. They ignore the fact that there are many other options to enter the highway and that other CDNs and video providers are able to figure it out (without having these problems). Netflix wants to place blame for the situations that they created (and can correct) as part of business leverage.It is also important to remind that this not only impacts Netflix, their real-time traffic congestion decisions negativly impact VoIP 911 calls, commercial VPNs and gaming traffic using the same path.When entities use their real-time Internet steering power to negatively impact services for their benefit we have a whole new Net Neutrality problem that consumers should be just as concerned about.

mja1980

join:2013-05-09 mja1980 Member atat merger so if they deny this are we going to see atat/directv denied as well? only fair if none go through if one is shot down.



Joel Billy

@67.149.109.x Joel Billy Anon cost The USA has some of the most expensive internet in the world! This deal would only make that worse. England has providers offering 50mbps at ~$15/mo. You'd pay $80/mo with Comcast. Its shameful.



MDA

Auto Negotiating

Premium Member

join:2013-09-10

Minneapolis, MN ·Comcast XFINITY

Netgear CM600

Asus RT-AC66U B1

MDA Premium Member Re: cost And that's just it. The only way we'd get down to that kind of price is if we did an at&t and bell breakup to comcast and TWC. It just makes sense because they did it in the dialup early dsl days, now it's time for cable's retribution. Then we would have tons of little isps competing and have "choice" once again....