The US government on Thursday banned internet service providers (ISPs) from meddling in the speeds their customers receive when browsing the web and downloading files, restoring tough rules rescinded during the Trump administration and setting the stage for a major legal battle with the broadband industry.
Prices stay high because ISPs are able to block competition with stupid compliance laws (e.g. obstacles to run cable, obstacles to register, and lawsuits galore). In my area, prices are pretty reasonable, because we actually have decent competition. We have:
DSL
Cable
local ISP - based on failed old muni fiber rollout (stupid state laws)
radios - works well for some people
5G-based services
upcoming muni fiber project
The muni fiber project is doing a lot of work here, but our local ISP is pretty decent as well, with speeds from 20/10 to 1000/500, from $40 to $125, taxes included in price (5 tiers total; only had two crappy tiers before muni fiber project announced). Cable prices are also reasonable because they need to compete with the local muni ISP, but they hide fees and whatnot, so I don’t bother with them.
So eliminating those types of regulations could help new ISPs compete in new markets. There should obviously be some regulations, but they need to be reasonable and relevant, like they need to fix any roads they dig up, get permission from the city to run cable on existing conduit, etc.
Nah, go the other way: deregulate competition.
Prices stay high because ISPs are able to block competition with stupid compliance laws (e.g. obstacles to run cable, obstacles to register, and lawsuits galore). In my area, prices are pretty reasonable, because we actually have decent competition. We have:
The muni fiber project is doing a lot of work here, but our local ISP is pretty decent as well, with speeds from 20/10 to 1000/500, from $40 to $125, taxes included in price (5 tiers total; only had two crappy tiers before muni fiber project announced). Cable prices are also reasonable because they need to compete with the local muni ISP, but they hide fees and whatnot, so I don’t bother with them.
As someone thats lived through numerous industry deregulations, it never works out in favor of the consumer.
That’s a pretty broad brush you got there.
Basically what happened was, cable companies made a deal with cities to essentially get a monopoly on Internet infrastructure, and they keep lobbying for additional barriers to block entry for new competitors. So if a new telecom tries to come in, they’ll lock them up in lawsuits to encourage them to go away. Here’s an example in Nashville. Generally they’ll lobby for newcomers to have to ask them for help or permission, then drag their feet to waste the other company’s time and money.
So eliminating those types of regulations could help new ISPs compete in new markets. There should obviously be some regulations, but they need to be reasonable and relevant, like they need to fix any roads they dig up, get permission from the city to run cable on existing conduit, etc.