4 ms·

or we could you know, just have many ISP's instead of just a few big ones. Not that i'm against a different topology, but breaking them up is easier to ask for

or we could you know, just have many ISP's instead of just a few big ones. Not that i'm against a different topology, but breaking them up is easier to ask for / implement.

bluedino 11y ago
Telco was no better when there were a bunch of baby bells
- empath75 11y ago
  the baby bells were all monopolies, though.
tw04 11y ago
The solution to this problem is extremely simple. Government runs the last mile fiber to EVERY home. Then* pull it back to a central location and let ISPs compete for service there where the barrier to entry isn't billions of dollars. REAL competition.
- x1798DE 11y ago
  I'm pretty sure I don't want all network connections going through government owned infrastructure.
  - tw04 11y ago
    I'm pretty sure the government can and does tap any line they want. If you think a private company owning the last mile somehow makes you more secure than if the government did, you're being extremely naive.
    - x1798DE 11y ago
      Well, I was less worried about the lines and more worried about the described centralized clearinghouses. That said, although obviously the government can show up with guns wherever they want and tap whatever they want, I suspect the legal situation would be much different if we're looking at government-owned infrastructure vs. privately owned infrastructure.
iamsohungry 11y ago
Is it really? If we can provide a mesh network that is as effective as older topologies but cheaper, the problem is solved, period. If we break up ISPs into smaller ISPs, then we have to maintain that solution, as giant companies are constantly lobbying government to allow them to re-establish monopolistic practices. History tells us anti-monopolistic policies don't last. The split and re-merging of phone companies happened in under a decade. Glass-Steagall worked for a long time, but finally died. I have no argument that there are major technical hurdles to clear before we can have mesh networks, but once those hurdles are cleared, the power is decentralized into the hands of individuals. Individuals can join together to force through legislation, but the power remains centralized in government, and maintaining that is extremely difficult. To be clear, I give money to the EFF and I've called my congressmen on issues like net neutrality: I don't mean to downplay the importance of these efforts. But these are temporary solutions, workarounds to the problem, rather than solutions.

or we could you know, just have many ISP's instead of just a few big ones. Not that i'm against a different topology, but breaking them up is easier to ask for / implement.

bluedino 11y ago

Telco was no better when there were a bunch of baby bells

empath75 11y ago
the baby bells were all monopolies, though.

tw04 11y ago

The solution to this problem is extremely simple. Government runs the last mile fiber to EVERY home. Then* pull it back to a central location and let ISPs compete for service there where the barrier to entry isn't billions of dollars. REAL competition.

x1798DE 11y ago
I'm pretty sure I don't want all network connections going through government owned infrastructure.
- tw04 11y ago
  I'm pretty sure the government can and does tap any line they want. If you think a private company owning the last mile somehow makes you more secure than if the government did, you're being extremely naive.
  - x1798DE 11y ago
    Well, I was less worried about the lines and more worried about the described centralized clearinghouses. That said, although obviously the government can show up with guns wherever they want and tap whatever they want, I suspect the legal situation would be much different if we're looking at government-owned infrastructure vs. privately owned infrastructure.

iamsohungry 11y ago

Is it really? If we can provide a mesh network that is as effective as older topologies but cheaper, the problem is solved, period. If we break up ISPs into smaller ISPs, then we have to maintain that solution, as giant companies are constantly lobbying government to allow them to re-establish monopolistic practices. History tells us anti-monopolistic policies don't last. The split and re-merging of phone companies happened in under a decade. Glass-Steagall worked for a long time, but finally died. I have no argument that there are major technical hurdles to clear before we can have mesh networks, but once those hurdles are cleared, the power is decentralized into the hands of individuals. Individuals can join together to force through legislation, but the power remains centralized in government, and maintaining that is extremely difficult. To be clear, I give money to the EFF and I've called my congressmen on issues like net neutrality: I don't mean to downplay the importance of these efforts. But these are temporary solutions, workarounds to the problem, rather than solutions.