Am I The Only Techie Against Net Neutrality?

[scott]

Am I The Only Techie Against Net Neutrality?

...

If Net Neutrality comes to pass it will be written in a way that will make it harder for new companies to offer Internet services, which means we’ll be even more beholden to the large telecoms than before.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2014/05/14/am-i-the-only-techie-against-net-neutrality/

I said that in 2004.

[Billy Jingo]

You were engaging in an anti-government screed in 2004?

I believe it.

[Novaheart]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshstei...et-neutrality/


I said that in 2004.

"Every industry that has major problems producing products and services people are happy with is either directly managed by government or heavily regulated by it. "

This is demonstrably not true. Apple and Samsung produce innovative products for one of the most heavily regulated systems; telecommunications.

Cellphone providers have blossomed and adapted to competition. My first cell phone back in 1989 cost me $500 and something like 40 cents a minute leading to monthly bills of over $150. I now have a smartphone that's a more powerful computer than any laptop made before 2005, has an incredible battery life, unlimited services, and it's waterproof all for $80/month including internet and mobile hotspot.

[Gramps]

"Every industry that has major problems producing products and services people are happy with is either directly managed by government or heavily regulated by it. "

This is demonstrably not true. Apple and Samsung produce innovative products for one of the most heavily regulated systems; telecommunications.

Cellphone providers have blossomed and adapted to competition. My first cell phone back in 1989 cost me $500 and something like 40 cents a minute leading to monthly bills of over $150. I now have a smartphone that's a more powerful computer than any laptop made before 2005, has an incredible battery life, unlimited services, and it's waterproof all for $80/month including internet and mobile hotspot.

Apple has some special deal with the FCC.

Normally, when a cellular device manufacturer wants to market a product, it has to submit that product to the FCC for evaluation.

Eventually, if the product is deemed okeydokey by the FCC there will be an approval that the FCC publishes.

Never happens with Apple.
The FCC keeps the Apple approvals under rap until Apple announces the next best and greatest at a circus event.

So, the FCC is compliant with keeping the Apple mystique alive by protecting it from scrutiny, building the anticipation and rumors prior to the dog and pony show, while all other manufacturers are out when the approval is granted.

No specs published on the 'newest' iPhone until the product launch.
Any other manufacturer gets the specs published prior to license and launch.

[Gramps]

I now have a smartphone that's a more powerful computer than any laptop made before 2005, has an incredible battery life, unlimited services, and it's waterproof

Your 'active' (I'm guessing) is not waterproof.
No cellular devices are.
Your device is 'water resistant' and you have to read the fine print to define what water damage is covered by the manufacturers warranty, which can be over ridden by the service provider who sold you the phone

all for $80/month including internet and mobile hotspot.

The price of your cellular service is a product of the market.
As more and more people purchased cell phones and a carrier, they could lower the cost of the service.

It is totally market driven.
A cellular tower can cost up to 5 million dollars from start to 'flip switch on'...
To support that cost, you have to have revenue from subscribers.

The Motorola Razor and the later the original iPhone were the drivers of market expansion, allowing the carriers to lower the cost of connection because of increased customer base revenue.

Just another market thing.

[scott]

"Every industry that has major problems producing products and services people are happy with is either directly managed by government or heavily regulated by it. "

This is demonstrably not true. Apple and Samsung produce innovative products for one of the most heavily regulated systems; telecommunications.

Cellphone providers have blossomed and adapted to competition. My first cell phone back in 1989 cost me $500 and something like 40 cents a minute leading to monthly bills of over $150. I now have a smartphone that's a more powerful computer than any laptop made before 2005, has an incredible battery life, unlimited services, and it's waterproof all for $80/month including internet and mobile hotspot.

Do you not remember some very widespread telecommunications deregulation just before cell phones gained traction?

Interesting.

http://economics.about.com/od/governmenttheeconomy/a/telecom.htm

[RobJohnson]

Do you not remember some very widespread telecommunications deregulation just before cell phones gained traction?

Interesting.

http://economics.about.com/od/govern.../a/telecom.htm

I know a guy that was the son in law of a family that was the president of a small town America locally shareholder owned (non IPO) phone company. The guy started what is now known as Sprint. Sprint bought them out after they were able to do the start up after the deregulation. At 30 years old this guy was sitting on a ton of dough. People from his mother's church were brining his family food as they heard he had "lost his job." I wish I could lose a job at thirty and never have to worry about money again. I would still take the food, I like to eat.

For years Sprint's main billing office for cell service was still above the local bank building in this little town. They also then started the digital service for Sprint in IL. (Illinois PCS)

I remember when a couple shares of the parent phone company were bequeathed to our church, each share was worth 18k. This telephone company was also the first telephone company to offer 911 service in Illinois.

The phone company even owns another company that sells software to other phone companies and does paper billing for thousands of phone companies nationwide.

All this from a farming community of 6500 people....