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The problem is that it's easier to compete with Level3 than with Comcast, because while it's incredibly hard to build a backbone provider, it's nearly impossibl
by spankalee 12y ago
The problem is that it's easier to compete with Level3 than with Comcast, because while it's incredibly hard to build a backbone provider, it's nearly impossible to build an ISP. This asymmetry is making Comcast bold. They think that eventually competitors to Level3, Netflix, etc., will take advantage of their poor connectivity, pay them, and reap the rewards. They might be right.
- jbooth 12y agoIt could just as easily be the case that nobody's going to put however many dollars into building out a nationwide infrastructure that's completely dependent on future goodwill from Comcast et al, in light of their current behavior. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but I think Level3 wins here just because most people have no idea who they are or what the 'internet backbone' is. "My netflix is slow!" => Netflix's problem. "My internet is slow!" => Cable company's problem.