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Look at the bright side, at least Verizon doesn't run the water utility. The water companies weren't throttling down water asking for price gouging. ISPs like

Look at the bright side, at least Verizon doesn't run the water utility. The water companies weren't throttling down water asking for price gouging. ISPs like Verizon just run the network utility, that only the ISPs don't think is a utility. The reason ISPs fought so hard to end net neutrality, remove privacy protections and remove them from FCC oversight was to remove ISPs and the network utility from Title II / common carrier protections which make them a utility. ISPs know they are a utility but only want the benefits [1] not the service and legal requirements of being a privileged utility and local monopoly. > Broadband providers have spent years lobbying against utility-style regulations that protect consumers from high prices and bad service. > But now, broadband lobby groups are arguing that Internet service is similar to utilities such as electricity, gas distribution, roads, and water and sewer networks. In the providers' view, the essential nature of broadband doesn't require more regulation to protect consumers. Instead, they argue that broadband's utility-like status is reason for the government to give ISPs more money. [1] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/08/isps-want-to-be-utilities-but-only-to-get-more-money-from-the-government/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/08/isps-want-to-be-...

kalleboo 8y ago
Water utilities also generally do not offer "unlimited water" plans (unless you're coke/nestle I guess)
- drawkbox 8y ago
  > Water utilities also generally do not offer "unlimited water" plans (unless you're coke/nestle I guess) True, it is a physical resource as well but they aren't throttling water and they meter it, so if you use less you don't have to pay for that unused water, but if you use more or an almost unlimited need, you pay for that usage. ISPs get data overage charges after data caps but I don't get money back when I don't use up all my plan. ISPs have ISP-friendly metering now with data caps and throttling, I pay if I go over but I don't get money back if I use less. Or they offer unlimited plans that are throttled earlier than people want to oversell their capacity. Water isn't throttled and limited if you are paying but it isn't truly unlimited, neither is bandwidth/capacity, but bandwidth/capacity is more unlimited than water is as expansion is easier. All cable ISPs have to do is take more of the line dedicated to TV channels and use them for data and expand capacity, but they are choosing to nickel and dime and keep capacity low to keep data caps, throttling, overselling capacity, tax dollars and invest as little as possible in those areas rather than offer innovative jumps in bandwidth required for progress.
  - therealdrag0 8y ago
    I doubt it's trivial to add more capacity to ISPs. Also in places like California where there are water shortages some municipalities ARE have rates that increase dramatically as your usage goes up.
    - drawkbox 8y ago
      > I doubt it's trivial to add more capacity to ISPs. Running new lines takes time sure, but it is very easy to dedicate more of the line to data over tv channels which take immense data. With DOCSIS 3.1 they can multiplex but more should be used for data over television and capacity is easily added. Hard wired broadband is just milking it until 5G and by the time we get to 6G will be dead like phone lines so wirelessly adding capacity will be easier. My guess is ISPs are just not wasting time running lines, especially the ones that will push people to 5G and future specs when those are out.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]

kalleboo 8y ago

Water utilities also generally do not offer "unlimited water" plans (unless you're coke/nestle I guess)

drawkbox 8y ago
> Water utilities also generally do not offer "unlimited water" plans (unless you're coke/nestle I guess) True, it is a physical resource as well but they aren't throttling water and they meter it, so if you use less you don't have to pay for that unused water, but if you use more or an almost unlimited need, you pay for that usage. ISPs get data overage charges after data caps but I don't get money back when I don't use up all my plan. ISPs have ISP-friendly metering now with data caps and throttling, I pay if I go over but I don't get money back if I use less. Or they offer unlimited plans that are throttled earlier than people want to oversell their capacity. Water isn't throttled and limited if you are paying but it isn't truly unlimited, neither is bandwidth/capacity, but bandwidth/capacity is more unlimited than water is as expansion is easier. All cable ISPs have to do is take more of the line dedicated to TV channels and use them for data and expand capacity, but they are choosing to nickel and dime and keep capacity low to keep data caps, throttling, overselling capacity, tax dollars and invest as little as possible in those areas rather than offer innovative jumps in bandwidth required for progress.
- therealdrag0 8y ago
  I doubt it's trivial to add more capacity to ISPs. Also in places like California where there are water shortages some municipalities ARE have rates that increase dramatically as your usage goes up.
  - drawkbox 8y ago
    > I doubt it's trivial to add more capacity to ISPs. Running new lines takes time sure, but it is very easy to dedicate more of the line to data over tv channels which take immense data. With DOCSIS 3.1 they can multiplex but more should be used for data over television and capacity is easily added. Hard wired broadband is just milking it until 5G and by the time we get to 6G will be dead like phone lines so wirelessly adding capacity will be easier. My guess is ISPs are just not wasting time running lines, especially the ones that will push people to 5G and future specs when those are out.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]