Stop the Slow Lane • Hacker News Board

Re: Stop the Slow Lane

#41

Post by mapt » Thu, May 15, 2014, 3:32 AM UTC

exelius wrote: post #32

acdha wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

… and yet in practice many people live in an area where they have only one option either at all or for greater than DSL (or even ISDN) speed. I'm not talking about rural areas, either, but places like New Haven, CT or Washington, DC. Theoretically a new company could try to compete but the major companies tend to choose not to start price wars and it's a very expensive proposition to run competing cable out to houses…

> Theoretically a new company could try to compete but the major companies tend to choose not to start price wars and it's a very expensive proposition to run competing cable out to houses, particularly since the incumbent will usually lower prices to make it more expensive for the new entrant. Around here, in the areas which have competition both Verizon and Comcast will cut and remove the other company's cables whe…

This is probably the origin of this rumor, which applies to DSL:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2007-0...

http://www.cnet.com/news/cutting-the-copper-on-fios/

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/352765.page

Note, however, that there also do appear to be a significant number of anecdotal cases of 'vandalism' that are exactly as described (competitors getting their lines cut), especially in the case of multi-unit dwellings with different subs.

Re: Stop the Slow Lane

#42

Post by dspillett » Thu, May 15, 2014, 9:46 AM UTC

jessaustin wrote: post #26

dspillett wrote: post #18

Is there anywhere a curated list of ISPs who have actively spoken in favour of net neutrality (AAISP in the UK is the only one that springs quickly to mind, but I assume they aren't the only ones) and those who are apparently working against it? Perhaps with the IP ranges those ISPs are assigned? That way those of us who don't rely on any income from our sites could give those using the good guys speedier access (I w…

Is your suggestion to support NN by violating it?

Essentially, when you boil it down, yes. Ish.

The difference being that I'd not be holding anyone to ransom for money, which is what those calling for an end to what neutrality still exists essentially want, I'm instead suggesting that we give the people who aren't doing that a "thankyou for not being a dick".

Re: Stop the Slow Lane

#43

Post by exelius » Thu, May 15, 2014, 1:13 PM UTC

acdha wrote: post #40

exelius wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Theoretically a new company could try to compete but the major companies tend to choose not to start price wars and it's a very expensive proposition to run competing cable out to houses, particularly since the incumbent will usually lower prices to make it more expensive for the new entrant. Around here, in the areas which have competition both Verizon and Comcast will cut and remove the other company's cables whe…

> I have no idea where you heard this fairy tale. 4 friends and coworkers who had it happen, mentioned separately and on several occasions this happened in a group setting and was immediately confirmed by other people who had the same experience. You'll forgive me for finding them more convincing than your argument from incredulity. It's entirely possible that this a grassroots thing but the people affected spanned ~…

I don't doubt that it happens; just not for the reasons you ascribe to it. It's probably just the fact that the wiring boxes are usually a complete mess and totally inconsistent from job to job. The contractors get paid by the job, so their attitude tends to be "fuck it, rip it all out and make it work so I can get to the next job".

Re: Stop the Slow Lane

#44

Post by acdha » Thu, May 15, 2014, 2:34 PM UTC

exelius wrote: post #43

acdha wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have no idea where you heard this fairy tale. 4 friends and coworkers who had it happen, mentioned separately and on several occasions this happened in a group setting and was immediately confirmed by other people who had the same experience. You'll forgive me for finding them more convincing than your argument from incredulity. It's entirely possible that this a grassroots thing but the people affected spanned ~…

I don't doubt that it happens; just not for the reasons you ascribe to it. It's probably just the fact that the wiring boxes are usually a complete mess and totally inconsistent from job to job. The contractors get paid by the job, so their attitude tends to be "fuck it, rip it all out and make it work so I can get to the next job".

Perhaps but they're doing it in a Comcast/Verizon truck, wearing their uniform, talking about that as their company with no mention of being a contractor, and in at least two of those cases they specifically went to extra work to remove the cable even though it didn't come in the same box / conduit as the new fiber. That was actually why I first heard about it: a coworker mentioned his surprise that the FIOS installer spent the extra time removing Comcast's cabling all the way out to the street after finishing their install.