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Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

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Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#11

Post by asdff »

imoverclocked wrote: post #5

Given that cable companies are often monopolies in the region they operate and that they have a history of shady practices, I’m not sure why people are so hesitant to accept local governments from offering broadband instead. If they did then at least there would be public input on the implementation instead of just corporate interests deciding who is eligible and what they want to install (and when…)

Municipal broadband doesn't bundle with TV and sports like Comcast does. Addicted people need their hits of dopamine, and Comcast (or insert evil ISP here) controls the supply even with a municipal player in town. I wouldn't be surprised if Comcast charged you more for your TV package alone than if you bundled your internet as well.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#12

Post by spullara »

imoverclocked wrote: post #5

Given that cable companies are often monopolies in the region they operate and that they have a history of shady practices, I’m not sure why people are so hesitant to accept local governments from offering broadband instead. If they did then at least there would be public input on the implementation instead of just corporate interests deciding who is eligible and what they want to install (and when…)

To be fair, your local government is a monopoly in the region they operate and if you look into it likely have a history of shady practices - at least all the places I have lived. I also doubt they value customer service any more than your ISP.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#13

Post by smnrchrds »

asdff wrote: post #9
smnrchrds wrote: post #3

I expect people to only switch if the price of the municipal option is lower. I also expect the corporations to get into a price war with municipalities, which they will win, because they have bigger coffer and economies of scale. I also expect the prices to go slowly but surely back up when the municipal option goes out of business.

In recent years that's not been the case. Municipal option has been faster, sometimes, fiber, and cheaper. It's far from failed, in Chatanooga for example it is very successful.

Maybe I am wrong. I hope I am. But the Planet Money episode on this topic mentioned municipal broadband has more failure stories than success. It's worth a listen if you have the time.

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/865908114/small-america-vs-bi...

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#14

Post by bpodgursky »

runako wrote: post #10
bpodgursky wrote: post #6

I don't see any way this could be a meaningful survey, because the implication is that 60% of consumers would "not even consider" switching to a cheaper provider, which is ridiculous. Of course people would consider it. I'm not even personally convinced it's a great idea (I'm not currently impressed with municipal _anything_ living in Seattle), and I would _consider_ using it instead of Xfinity. I doubt there are 20%…

> not currently impressed with municipal _anything_ living in Seattle Are the water and sewage systems that bad in Seattle? I was unaware, but will now be detouring to learn more (although I am a little hesitant to find out what problems could be arising on the sewage front).

The water quality is fine, and I haven't had sewage problems. But they are both pretty crazy expensive given how much accessible clean water there is in the PNW (https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/rain-soaked-s...).

I'm not impressed with trash or recycling pickup, which are intermittent and expensive.

Electricity is fine I guess, but we have solar and don't end up paying anything on net so I don't pay attention to the price.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#15

Post by karmakaze »

imoverclocked wrote: post #5

Given that cable companies are often monopolies in the region they operate and that they have a history of shady practices, I’m not sure why people are so hesitant to accept local governments from offering broadband instead. If they did then at least there would be public input on the implementation instead of just corporate interests deciding who is eligible and what they want to install (and when…)

The government should govern and have multiple providers serving generally non-overlapping regions. Based on how well they serve their regions their region can be enlarged or shrunk, or they be given new regions to serve.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#16

Post by NovemberWhiskey »

bpodgursky wrote: post #6

I don't see any way this could be a meaningful survey, because the implication is that 60% of consumers would "not even consider" switching to a cheaper provider, which is ridiculous. Of course people would consider it. I'm not even personally convinced it's a great idea (I'm not currently impressed with municipal _anything_ living in Seattle), and I would _consider_ using it instead of Xfinity. I doubt there are 20%…

>I don't see any way this could be a meaningful survey, because the implication is that 60% of consumers would "not even consider" switching to a cheaper provider, which is ridiculous.

Are you assuming municipal broadband would be cheaper? As discussed elsewhere on this thread, it's very difficult to have any sense of the meaning of the results without understanding the questions asked.

If the question was literally just "would you consider switching from your current broadband supplier to a municipal supplier?" then it tells us very little other than people are making a bunch of assumptions that lead to mixed conclusions.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#17

Post by Cd00d »

bpodgursky wrote: post #14
runako wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> not currently impressed with municipal _anything_ living in Seattle Are the water and sewage systems that bad in Seattle? I was unaware, but will now be detouring to learn more (although I am a little hesitant to find out what problems could be arising on the sewage front).

The water quality is fine, and I haven't had sewage problems. But they are both pretty crazy expensive given how much accessible clean water there is in the PNW ( https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/rain-soaked-s... ). I'm not impressed with trash or recycling pickup, which are intermittent and expensive. Electricity is fine I guess, but we have solar and don't end up paying anything on net so I don't pay…

To be fair, it doesn't seem like you have many issues with municipal management, but don't like the cost.

How can you know the cost is worse than a privatized version?

Intermittent trash pickup does seem problematic.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#18

Post by scarface74 »

asdff wrote: post #11
imoverclocked wrote: post #5

Given that cable companies are often monopolies in the region they operate and that they have a history of shady practices, I’m not sure why people are so hesitant to accept local governments from offering broadband instead. If they did then at least there would be public input on the implementation instead of just corporate interests deciding who is eligible and what they want to install (and when…)

Municipal broadband doesn't bundle with TV and sports like Comcast does. Addicted people need their hits of dopamine, and Comcast (or insert evil ISP here) controls the supply even with a municipal player in town. I wouldn't be surprised if Comcast charged you more for your TV package alone than if you bundled your internet as well.

There are plenty of internet OTT services that provide live TV like Hulu Live, YouTube TV, Sling, etc.

These days if you’re not into sports, there is really no need for live TV. You can mix and match streaming services.

Re: Study: 40.2% of Consumers Would Consider Switching to Municipal Broadband

#19

Post by devit »

smnrchrds wrote: post #3

I expect people to only switch if the price of the municipal option is lower. I also expect the corporations to get into a price war with municipalities, which they will win, because they have bigger coffer and economies of scale. I also expect the prices to go slowly but surely back up when the municipal option goes out of business.

Not sure if it applies to the US, but generally municipalities could use taxpayer money to fund it and make the service free, which beats any corporation, since it's equivalent to making it mandatory to be a customer.
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