3 ms·

Why? Obviously we all want faster mobile data, but how do you think the government will improve on what telcos would do on their own?

by tlb 9y ago

throwawaygov3 9y ago
Well, the difference is that I can’t vote AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon out in four years.
- arenaninja 9y ago
  I have a hard time seeing how government would do a better job. When I didn't like my 4G coverage by T-Mobile I switched to AT&T, higher price but far better coverage. What recourse do you have against a government gone rogue except to wait 4 years? It sounds to me like you're describing a step backwards
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
- hedora 9y ago
  I switched to tracfone. They’re run by a mexican firm at least as big and evil as any of the US telcos, but you can choose to use any one of the big three networks, and for about a third of less of what I paid before, so it must be dumping less $$$ into the ethical sink hole that is the cell phone industry. I strongly recommend sonic.net and unwired ltd if they have coverage where you are (sf, north and east bay, mostly) I wish municipal broadband was the rule in the US instead of the exception. It’s much easier to vote your local mayor out than it is to vote the president and majority of congress out, especially over a local government service issue.
sova 9y ago
China will get there faster if we leave it up to private commerce, because private commerce must strike a deal to build infra whereas the government can pass a bill. Imagine if highways were private endeavors, we'd never have a road system. Thank Eisenhower (and the threat of the missile attacks) for that. Assuming another [super]power achieves 5G first, not only will their network be faster, but they will control the manufacture of hardware, and could use that for whatever means they see fit.
- hedora 9y ago
  Hey, now that cars are computerized, can play up the military risk of an EMP, and rebuild the rail system we ripped out?

Why? Obviously we all want faster mobile data, but how do you think the government will improve on what telcos would do on their own?

by tlb 9y ago

Why? Obviously we all want faster mobile data, but how do you think the government will improve on what telcos would do on their own?

throwawaygov3 9y ago

Well, the difference is that I can’t vote AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon out in four years.

arenaninja 9y ago
I have a hard time seeing how government would do a better job. When I didn't like my 4G coverage by T-Mobile I switched to AT&T, higher price but far better coverage. What recourse do you have against a government gone rogue except to wait 4 years? It sounds to me like you're describing a step backwards
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
hedora 9y ago
I switched to tracfone. They’re run by a mexican firm at least as big and evil as any of the US telcos, but you can choose to use any one of the big three networks, and for about a third of less of what I paid before, so it must be dumping less $$$ into the ethical sink hole that is the cell phone industry. I strongly recommend sonic.net and unwired ltd if they have coverage where you are (sf, north and east bay, mostly) I wish municipal broadband was the rule in the US instead of the exception. It’s much easier to vote your local mayor out than it is to vote the president and majority of congress out, especially over a local government service issue.

sova 9y ago

China will get there faster if we leave it up to private commerce, because private commerce must strike a deal to build infra whereas the government can pass a bill. Imagine if highways were private endeavors, we'd never have a road system. Thank Eisenhower (and the threat of the missile attacks) for that. Assuming another [super]power achieves 5G first, not only will their network be faster, but they will control the manufacture of hardware, and could use that for whatever means they see fit.

hedora 9y ago
Hey, now that cars are computerized, can play up the military risk of an EMP, and rebuild the rail system we ripped out?