5 ms·

I feel like the political implications of this aren't being discussed. So the 60 day period after which Spectrum would cease operations seems to end September

by btown 8y ago

I feel like the political implications of this aren't being discussed. So the 60 day period after which Spectrum would cease operations seems to end September 25, a week before online voter registration ends for the November elections... and even independent of that, it's at a critical moment for campaigning. For many without a fiber connection in the NYC area, Optimum is now the only game in town, and it has no reason not to price gouge (there's no regulation forcing them to offer now-unnecessary promotional pricing to people). So many low-income people in old housing may need to go without internet and cable during the time immediately preceding the elections. Yes, most phones have data plans nowadays, but quick question: how many people do you know who would be able to print the PDF voter registration form easily from their computer, but would have no idea how to do so from their phone, and can't figure out how to set up a hotspot? Imagine if New York were a swing state - it's normally not. On the one hand, you're making it suddenly more difficult to register to vote last-minute; that's not necessarily voter suppression, but it certainly smells like it. On the other hand, you're suddenly raising the effective price of (for example) Fox News/MSNBC, their online presences, access to Facebook on desktop computers (where ads are more prevalent), and streaming access to both Alex Jones and Bill Maher. You're cutting people off from information that reinforces their world view, and (gasp) they may need to watch basic cable, the most "mainstream" of mainstream media, while eating breakfast. That's ridiculously impactful. Perhaps some of these concerns are overblown. Perhaps Optimum will, um, optimize for long-term goodwill and provide a reasonable upgrade path. But at the very least, we should be discussing these implications.

astronautjones 8y ago
> to both Alex Jones and Bill Maher. what a ridiculously false equivalency
- btown 8y ago
  Fair. I wanted to phrase my comment in a way that would be colorfully illustrated but not single out a specific political viewpoint. However, it is monumentally difficult to find a media personality on the left as dedicated to discrediting scientific consensus as Alex Jones. I chose the most outspoken left-leaning voice I could think of at the time. Any lack of equivalency, though, should not reflect on the merit of the underlying issue: that a decision to cut off a vital service provider is not without political consequences.
chrismartin 8y ago
From the actual press release: > During the transition process, Charter must continue to comply with all local franchises it holds in New York State and all obligations under the Public Service Law and the Commission regulations. Charter must ensure no interruption in service is experienced by customers, and, in the event that Charter does not do so, the Commission will take further steps, including seeking injunctive relief in Supreme Court in order to protect New York consumers.
walrus01 8y ago
> So the 60 day period after which Spectrum would cease operations seems to end September 25 I can guarantee you they're not trying to force them to cease operations. There are too many people with triple-play voip and ATA-to-SIP adapters that handle 911/E911 calls to do that. They are trying to force them to sell the regional ex-TWTC cable assets they acquired in the merger, to another cable operator. The likelihood of anyone at charter being told to shut off network interfaces/shut off the network in general is about zero percent.
toopsss 8y ago
What you’re saying about pricing makes little sense. Optimum and Spectrum territories do not overlap in the nyc area. There was never any competition between them. Optimum does have to compete with Fios in some parts and near as I can tell their promotions are not that granular.
cimmanom 8y ago
There were already plenty of locations where TWC/Spectrum was the only option available. The cable companies have each had neighborhood-level monopolies for as long as I can remember.

by btown 8y ago

astronautjones 8y ago

> to both Alex Jones and Bill Maher. what a ridiculously false equivalency

btown 8y ago
Fair. I wanted to phrase my comment in a way that would be colorfully illustrated but not single out a specific political viewpoint. However, it is monumentally difficult to find a media personality on the left as dedicated to discrediting scientific consensus as Alex Jones. I chose the most outspoken left-leaning voice I could think of at the time. Any lack of equivalency, though, should not reflect on the merit of the underlying issue: that a decision to cut off a vital service provider is not without political consequences.

chrismartin 8y ago

From the actual press release: > During the transition process, Charter must continue to comply with all local franchises it holds in New York State and all obligations under the Public Service Law and the Commission regulations. Charter must ensure no interruption in service is experienced by customers, and, in the event that Charter does not do so, the Commission will take further steps, including seeking injunctive relief in Supreme Court in order to protect New York consumers.

walrus01 8y ago

> So the 60 day period after which Spectrum would cease operations seems to end September 25 I can guarantee you they're not trying to force them to cease operations. There are too many people with triple-play voip and ATA-to-SIP adapters that handle 911/E911 calls to do that. They are trying to force them to sell the regional ex-TWTC cable assets they acquired in the merger, to another cable operator. The likelihood of anyone at charter being told to shut off network interfaces/shut off the network in general is about zero percent.

toopsss 8y ago

What you’re saying about pricing makes little sense. Optimum and Spectrum territories do not overlap in the nyc area. There was never any competition between them. Optimum does have to compete with Fios in some parts and near as I can tell their promotions are not that granular.

cimmanom 8y ago

There were already plenty of locations where TWC/Spectrum was the only option available. The cable companies have each had neighborhood-level monopolies for as long as I can remember.