[opendtv] Re: How to Smoke Out Where Broadband Companies Stand on Net Neutrality

From: Craig Birkmaier <brewmastercraig@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2017 09:40:35 -0400

On Jul 14, 2017, at 12:51 PM, Manfredi, Albert E
<albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

This article doesn't answer the question. It does point out some of the
arguments, but it completely ignores a couple of key points: (1) The
broadband companies are also MVPDs. As such, they benefit from providing
non-neutral service.

A great deal of FUD exists on this subject, but the reality is that NO MVPD
provides "non-neutral" broadband service, nor is it likely they ever would.
The reason is simple: customers would complain and the FTC would bring
anti-trust action against any offender.

The real issue here is whether a company that provides both broadband and MVPD
bundles can advantage their video service over competitors. The fact is that is
the major reason they are in business. People buy MVPD bundles to access
content they cannot access via OTA broadcasts and "most" streaming Internet
services. I say "most," because there are now at least four Virtual MVPD
services available via the Internet.

Consumers - at least those with high speed broadband, such as that offered by
cable and FTTH services - now have at least seven competitive options for
(V)MVPD bundles.

A related issue is Zero Rating, where a subscriber can access a related
streaming service without the bits counting against a cap. In this case
"someone" is paying for those bits. All of the wireless carriers are now
offering some form of Zero Rating that is tied to a subscription service that
pays for the bits.

To the best of my knowledge the fixed broadband services have not offered Zero
Rated services.

Bottom line, concerns about local MVPDs disadvantage go competitive services
are overblown, and can easily be dealt with by the FTC.

(2) They are local monopolies. As such, they don't have to worry about
natural competitive market forces.

They are not local monopolies anymore Bert. They have significant competition
for MVPD services, and growing competition for broadband services. They have
plenty of reason to be concerned about natural competitive market forces,
especially given the generally negative attitude about their pricing and
customer service issues.

As to Congress setting the rules instead of the FCC? That is the typically
lame cop-out of the extremists who want nothing done. Congress doesn't have
the history of the expertise in regulating telecoms. The FCC does. Same lame
mantra as trying to shove the burden off on the FTC. In other words, any
excuse to push the problem off onto those who you know will delay and delay
and delay, if for no other reason, they don't have the expertise.

NO Bert. It is not the role of bureaucracies or the courts to create law under
our constitution. That role is assigned to the legislative branch of the
government, which then has an oversight role to make sure the executive branch
enforces those laws.

The history of regulating telecoms and other "natural monopolies" is not
exactly a shining example of government expertise in providing vital services
to consumers. It IS a shining example of government overreach that has created
vast regulatory bureaucracies at the Federal, State and local levels, and full
time employment for an army of attorneys to manipulate the system. It has cost
consumers a small fortune in taxes and fees, and caused the cost of these
services to be largely immune from competitive forces.

We have spent much of the past four decades trying to tear down this
unnecessary regulatory morass, only to witness the Obama administration use the
power of the executive branch to punish some industries while favoring others.
The Title II decision is a shining example of how the politicians are
attempting to take control of every aspect of our economy.

I just did something Bert believes is archaic and never happens anymore. I
bought a book, the e-book version, but it is still pages full of text and
images.

I'll be passing long some of the info as I find content of interest too this
forum.

Regards
Craig

References:
- [opendtv] Re: How to Smoke Out Where Broadband Companies Stand on Net Neutrality
  - From: Manfredi, Albert E

[opendtv] Re: How to Smoke Out Where Broadband Companies Stand on Net Neutrality

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