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Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

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Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#72

Wow, Netflix has decided to negotiate with the terrorists? I'm pretty disappointed. Edit: Having read more of the non-paywalled version, I have to say I think they're shooting themselves in the foot, even if Comcast was offering a better price than Cogent. It sets a terrible precedent, and gives Comcast the leverage to bump the price extortionately at the end of the deal.

As much as I hate the ISPs, calling them terrorists is a bit too much.

Really? There are web pages of terrorists that use the ISP infrastructure to send and receive data. Guilt by associations was 3 or 4 hops according to Snowden files? Since the ISPs refuse to be common carriers it is their fault. (Mostly sarcasm)

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#73

And so the precedent is set. This is the direction I see things going: For $70 a month from Comcast you can get Amazon, Google, and Facebook. For only $10 more a month you can add Netflix and Spotify. Want Pandora? Sorry, you'll have to switch to AT&T for that. The broadband providers are used to this type of packaged service given their history as cable television providers. It's how they make their money beyond pro…

That's already the case if you want websites like ESPN3 or NBC Sports Live Extra.

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#74
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not when their competitors will do the same. Heck, what competitors? Many areas only have Comcast service!

>> "Many areas only have Comcast service!" Do a lot of people in the US only have access to one or two ISP's?? If so why? I'm in a not particularly urban part of Ireland and I can choose between at least 5 ISP's, decent speeds, and a good variety of prices.

Same here. I'm in Bangalore, India, and I am spoilt for choice! There are about half a dozen ISPs that are recognized nationwide and then there are about a dozen that are specific to Bangalore with comparable QoS. And I also hear that ISP costs in US is really high in comparison. I really wonder why do they not come under anti-trust laws.

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#75
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is not going to happen. The onus is not on the consumer, it's on the service provider. The service provider may transfer the costs onto the consumer but Comcast won't directly charge the consumers a premium. That would be a bad move and Comcast would lose out its customers to competitors.

What competitors? In many areas, they are the only broadband provider. The next-closest providers are typically DSL. Consumers are going to get screwed on the front & back end of this.

run a search at broadbandnow.com, see what you get

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#76
So it begins. The end of the neutral internet.

I am already paying Comcast for access to the internet! Why does Netflix have to pay on top it?

That said, I have Netflix and Comcast and I have never experienced any issues.

Edit: Actually I realize, this is an agreement to allow Netflix to colocate some of their servers at Comcast hubs. So it is not actually that bad.

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#77
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not when their competitors will do the same. Heck, what competitors? Many areas only have Comcast service!

>> "Many areas only have Comcast service!" Do a lot of people in the US only have access to one or two ISP's?? If so why? I'm in a not particularly urban part of Ireland and I can choose between at least 5 ISP's, decent speeds, and a good variety of prices.

Ireland and Britain enjoy better competition since they're a smaller area. Australia and the US OTOH are terrible since the population is so spread out (Australia's slightly better as the population is mainly coastal).

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#78
post #44

And so the precedent is set. This is the direction I see things going: For $70 a month from Comcast you can get Amazon, Google, and Facebook. For only $10 more a month you can add Netflix and Spotify. Want Pandora? Sorry, you'll have to switch to AT&T for that. The broadband providers are used to this type of packaged service given their history as cable television providers. It's how they make their money beyond pro…

That is not going to happen. The onus is not on the consumer, it's on the service provider. The service provider may transfer the costs onto the consumer but Comcast won't directly charge the consumers a premium. That would be a bad move and Comcast would lose out its customers to competitors.

The costs always inevitably transfer to the consumer though. It may be opaque how things are truly priced but this is the way it works.

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As much as I hate the ISPs, calling them terrorists is a bit too much.

It is too much to compare them to what terrorists do, but let's face it - this could lead to more damage to the internet than terrorists could ever do.

World economy as whole. This kinds of stuff just strangle innovation. Currently I am helping (remotely) a friend in US to move his startup (creating value in US) up to speed while bringing hard cash in my country. Both the startup and our workflow rely on the openness of the internet.

Re: Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

#80

Wow, Netflix has decided to negotiate with the terrorists? I'm pretty disappointed. Edit: Having read more of the non-paywalled version, I have to say I think they're shooting themselves in the foot, even if Comcast was offering a better price than Cogent. It sets a terrible precedent, and gives Comcast the leverage to bump the price extortionately at the end of the deal.

As much as I hate the ISPs, calling them terrorists is a bit too much.

Terrorist use terror to further their (often nebulous) ends. Comcast just terrorized me into seeing beloved intarwebs reduced to the absolute shithole that cable television has become. That's terrorism to me.

I suggest we treat them accordingly.

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