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AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

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Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#21

Post by reaperducer »

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #16
downrightmike wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially considering that there is more than likely no other option for service in the area because of the ISP totally not being a monopoly, totally not.

Assuming I'm parsing the sarcasm correctly, they can't sign on for any other ISP? So you get a choice of one depending on where you happen to live? I'm used to what's called local loop unbundling in the UK and Europe - which is the removal of the last mile monopoly, and all ISPs simply putting a DSLAM in exchanges. Initially this was localised, and there were smaller local players, but they're now effectively all nat…

There are large swaths of the United States where people have just one choice for internet service.

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#22

Post by craftyguy »

wmf wrote: post #19
craftyguy wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> pay $35 And make a quick buck on the side too!

That's a bargain compared to being on the wrong end of a federal copyright lawsuit.

Considering that the 'process' doesn't work (assumming the folks above are correct about being ignored), what makes you think you won't end up on the wrong end of a federal copyright lawsuit even after your $35 donation?

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#23

Post by lotsofpulp »

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #16
downrightmike wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially considering that there is more than likely no other option for service in the area because of the ISP totally not being a monopoly, totally not.

Assuming I'm parsing the sarcasm correctly, they can't sign on for any other ISP? So you get a choice of one depending on where you happen to live? I'm used to what's called local loop unbundling in the UK and Europe - which is the removal of the last mile monopoly, and all ISPs simply putting a DSLAM in exchanges. Initially this was localised, and there were smaller local players, but they're now effectively all nat…

In the US, most homes only have 1 option for wired broadband internet with decent latency. And even then, the upload sucks. Phone line DSL is not decent internet, so unless the phone provider offers fiber, which they very rarely do, you’re at the whim of the company that provides cable television.

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#24

Post by jrockway »

I wonder when this will spread to other industries? Say someone doesn't pay their newspaper bill. Maybe contact their water company and ask them to shut off their water, to encourage them to pay. It's worth a try, right?

I get why content rights owners go to the ISP to get at the ISP's customers who are doing things they don't like. I don't get why ISPs play along. It's extra work, and it makes the customer hate the ISP for being the bearer of bad news.

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#25

Post by sp332 »

It's taken a while to sort out in the industry, but I think the finding against Cox last year has ISPs running scared. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/02/cox-must-pay-8m-...

Edit: I thought there was something more recent, and sure enough there's a new lawsuit from August this year. https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2018/08/sensing-blood-in-wat...

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#26

Post by msbarnett »

sbov wrote: post #17
eiaoa wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what happens if your service is cut in error. Do you trust ATT to have a fair, easy appeals process? This is where many of the arguments against government regulation break down. If you take government out of the picture, you're still left dealing with massive institutions and bureaucratic regulations. The main difference is that those institutions are even less accountable to the average person than the government…

But if AT&T unfairly cuts you off from the internet, you could just go to a competitor!

> But if AT&T unfairly cuts you off from the internet, you could just go to a competitor!

If we pretend geographic monopolies don't exist, maybe

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#27

Post by gbear605 »

sbov wrote: post #17
eiaoa wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what happens if your service is cut in error. Do you trust ATT to have a fair, easy appeals process? This is where many of the arguments against government regulation break down. If you take government out of the picture, you're still left dealing with massive institutions and bureaucratic regulations. The main difference is that those institutions are even less accountable to the average person than the government…

But if AT&T unfairly cuts you off from the internet, you could just go to a competitor!

Not in many areas

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#28

Post by sf_rob »

obblekk wrote: post #5

I’m sure many of us believe in following and enforcing laws (even flawed laws like 150yr copyright), but are still made uneasy by this development. I think the source of that discomfort is - what happens if your service is cut in error. Do you trust ATT to have a fair, easy appeals process? Competition in the form of space internet can’t come soon enough, not to enable pirates, but to ensure normal people have reason…

As you hint at, this is also a space where the FCC considers dial up and cell phone service (AFAIK) to be competitors when it comes to regulatory requirements. I got some copyright notices from a roommate's habits and Comcast was the only high speed ISP that was available at my house. Given that my work involves regular working from home, this was highly concerning.

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#29

Post by jstanley »

obblekk wrote: post #5

I’m sure many of us believe in following and enforcing laws (even flawed laws like 150yr copyright), but are still made uneasy by this development. I think the source of that discomfort is - what happens if your service is cut in error. Do you trust ATT to have a fair, easy appeals process? Competition in the form of space internet can’t come soon enough, not to enable pirates, but to ensure normal people have reason…

> I’m sure many of us believe in following and enforcing laws (even flawed laws like 150yr copyright)

FWIW, many of us don't believe in following or enforcing unjust laws.

Re: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown

#30

Post by standerman »

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #16
downrightmike wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially considering that there is more than likely no other option for service in the area because of the ISP totally not being a monopoly, totally not.

Assuming I'm parsing the sarcasm correctly, they can't sign on for any other ISP? So you get a choice of one depending on where you happen to live? I'm used to what's called local loop unbundling in the UK and Europe - which is the removal of the last mile monopoly, and all ISPs simply putting a DSLAM in exchanges. Initially this was localised, and there were smaller local players, but they're now effectively all nat…

50 million US homes have only one 25Mbps Internet provider or none at all https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/06/50-mi...
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