It’ll create 0 as long as the legislation is robust and the current department/politician in charge doesn’t meddle. If you look at other utilities that doesn’t always end up being the case. They should definitely be ripping apart most big-name ISPs and replacing them with localized ones, in addition to absolutely destroying their ability to monopolize by forcing them to rent shared linespace at reasonable cost.

Unless you’re Comcast… or someone who owns a lot of Comcast stock. And I’m pretty sure a lot of people in Congress own a lot of Comcast stock.

Wheeeeeeeeee rampant unregulated late-stage capitalism

Disagree. Utilities are also a shitshow and have defrauded the consumer.

I’d prefer that a baseline level of internet service be defined (100mbps symmetrical max, 100ms latency or lower ) and allow local governments and communities to provide that level of service to their constituents. If a company wants to compete above those baselines, let them.

I’d also let the baselines be re-negotiated annually.

I feel like the fact an ISP can just flatout say that should really scream oligopoly issues. Not just the fact the other company is just as bad, but the fact that they (the competitor) is fully aware that the switch is too costly to do.

I have Spectrum and they essentially told me the same, since Frontier is now available in my area. Unsure if it’s true or Spectrum is bluffing. Can anyone here comment on Frontier or the difference between the two? Getting older and I can’t say I keep up with ISP’s as much as I should.

First, look into 5G competitors. They have higher latency but usually decent speeds. Unless you’re playing tournaments in competitive video games, they work just fine.

Then, call your ISP with a complaint, and say you’re considering moving over to that competitor. You have to actually be willing to make the move though, because retention lines are starting to care less and less about actually keeping you. I had one actually just say “okay done the line is cancelled.”

Be sure you actually call them on their bullshit though. “They aren’t as fast” may be true, but “I don’t actually need the speeds you’re offering 99% of the time.” “They have high latency” again may be true, but “I don’t actually use the internet for anything that requires an obscenely low ping.”

It’s annoying to have to do, but you can save money with it. And you may actually find a competitor you’re willing to make the move for, saving yourself some money in the process.

When we moved into this house, the prior owners had a hookup to AT&T that was max 50 mbps for $50/month. We kept getting told that At&T fiber was coming “soon” to the area, but the truth is that we live in a neighborhood with a lot of old people who don’t need/know about fiber and there was no incentive for them to bring it to our street (the biggest kick in the balls was that it was available a couple blocks away). So we got a Comcast hookup that has served us well for a couple of years, for $75 a month (my only gripe of course being that we never got the speed we paid for). Well, they just upped the price by $5 a month and fiber has finally arrived in the form of Fidium, so we’re saying good riddance to Comcast as well.

This is probably the first time ever that I’ve had more than 1 viable option available to me, and the competition is probably why Comcast was cheaper for us than for my parents living in a Comcast only area. We have no brand loyalty, we’ll switch service the minute we get a better deal. But these companies are able to maintain their shitty practices because most people don’t have options.

So why haven’t you switched yet?

Its just called “the internet” now.

A lot of are locked in because of sports. Not a lot of competition in that arena sadly.

Ah, I see that you’re not a pro wrestling fan