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F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

nytimes.com

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Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#101

Post by mbreese »

sliverstorm wrote: post #76
pluma wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where are you from exactly? I live in Europe and 2 blackouts in 3 years would still be an outrage. (To be fair, we have less natural disasters.)

We're missing a lot of context. San Antonio is in Texas, which means these could have been rolling blackouts, one of the last-ditch efforts employed by power companies during record summer temperature spikes (which translate to monumental load spikes in the form of A/C)

Or it could be weather related (like most outages), or a bad transformer, or a car running into a pole, or a ton of things...

So, you're right that we're missing a lot of context - including the duration. A 30 min outage due to an accident is very different from a 3 day outage due to a storm.

And like you said, AC can be a big drain on the grid during the summer.

(Disclaimer: I'm not sure what the weather in San Antonio is like...)

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#102

Post by 0xdeadbeefbabe »

supergeek133 wrote: post #4

I get what they're trying to accomplish, we all want faster more reliable service, but as comparison is anyone 100% happy with their utility (power, water, etc)? That's where this is headed.

Someone should downvote you for implying the government is not satisfying us 100%.

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#103

Post by skylan_q »

0xdeadbeefbabe wrote: post #87
skywhopper wrote: post #14

The major critique quoted here comes from David Farber of Carnegie-Mellon, who worries that classifying Internet access under Title II will allow it to be taxed. If that's the worst thing you can think of, we're in good shape.

The worst part is involving the FCC at all.

I'll have to agree to this.

Electricity is electricity, water is water, natural gas is natural gas.

But Internet traffic isn't a homogenous substance.

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#104

Post by skylan_q »

dkhenry wrote: post #80
skywhopper wrote: post #14

The major critique quoted here comes from David Farber of Carnegie-Mellon, who worries that classifying Internet access under Title II will allow it to be taxed. If that's the worst thing you can think of, we're in good shape.

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

I don't understand how people can disagree with this. He's perfectly correct. How often does one cite the price of cigarettes to quit smoking them?

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#105

Post by vonmoltke »

relaytheurgency wrote: post #44
res0nat0r wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue most here are not mentioning is the sad state of affairs of much of the US public infrastructure. I wonder how old the pipes running to your house are and how long ago they should have been upgraded? This is also a possibility if internet becomes a utility.

Well, it doesn't really matter how old the pipes are as long as they continue working and provide water that meets the EPA/state standards for health. The US public water system is, for all intents and purposes, a miracle that most people do not even think about. They just rely on it. It's also your duty to replace the pipes leading up to your own house off of the mains in most cases, so I guess take it up with your…

> Well, it doesn't really matter how old the pipes are as long as they continue working and provide water that meets the EPA/state standards for health.

Actually, it does. Water loss due to deteriorating infrastructure is becoming a significant issue as water supplies get strained. The EPA estimates that the average US water system loses 16% of their water during distribution, and about 75% of that can be prevented or recovered by maintaining and upgrading the systems.[1] Here in Texas this is a serious issue because our reservoirs are increasingly strained by population growth.

[1] http://water.epa.gov/type/drink/pws/smallsystems/upload/epa8...

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#106

Post by x11window »

dkhenry wrote: post #80
skywhopper wrote: post #14

The major critique quoted here comes from David Farber of Carnegie-Mellon, who worries that classifying Internet access under Title II will allow it to be taxed. If that's the worst thing you can think of, we're in good shape.

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

are you an anarchist or something?

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#107

Post by skylan_q »

dkhenry wrote: post #94

I understand the desire to regulate the internet as a utility, but are they going to actually regulate it like a utility or are they going to call it a common carrier and then just make up a few BS rules that need to be followed. I have a sinking feeling that all this will result in is a situation where monopolies are given out to the existing players and no one is forced to do anything to upgrade the existing servic…

I have a sinking feeling that all this will result in is a situation where monopolies are given out to the existing players and no one is forced to do anything to upgrade the existing service.

It's naive to think it would be anything but this. We like the Internet as it is today but for some reason we need to have the FCC control it in order to try to keep it the way it is.

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#108

Post by pavanky »

skylan_q wrote: post #103
0xdeadbeefbabe wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst part is involving the FCC at all.

I'll have to agree to this. Electricity is electricity, water is water, natural gas is natural gas. But Internet traffic isn't a homogenous substance.

Bytes are bytes.

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#109

Post by VLM »

lutorm wrote: post #57
cranklin wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can dump my cable company if they piss me off. I can't do that with my utility companies

I can too, and then not have cable. At least with the utility company, I can put up PV panels and live off grid.

Say goodbye to your occupancy permit, which will probably cause mortgage default.

You won't be kicked out of your house for canceling cable.

Re: F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility

#110

Post by twoodfin »

Wheeler is apparently basing the 'light touch' Title II regulation on similar regulations applied to mobile video (but not mobile data). Does anyone have some examples of the applications of mobile video being so regulated (The YouTube app on my phone? Probably not?) the kinds of regulations imposed and what the results have been?
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