SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the socialize-the-costs-and-privatize-the-profits dept.
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.
[...] "Like electricity, broadband is essential to every American," USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter and NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield wrote Monday in an op-ed for The Topeka Capital-Journal. "Yet US broadband infrastructure has been financed largely by the private sector without assurance that such costs can be recovered through increased consumer rates."
[...] While ISPs want the benefits of being treated like utilities—such as pole attachment rights and access to public rights-of-way—they oppose traditional utility-style obligations such as regulated prices and deployment to all Americans.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Gaaark on Friday August 17 2018, @12:52PM (4 children)
So, Americans that don't want socialism are asking for social assistance but want to make profits while not paying taxes but want fully funded government assistance but don't want to give money to government to fund the assistance but will gladly accept.....
......bluuuuurgggge......
Sorry: did I get some on you.....right there on your shoe?
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Friday August 17 2018, @01:24PM
No, you've got it. It's our system and it's working perfectly. What's your criticism?
Sarcasm aside, we 'Americans' are a bit more individualistic than I would like. Everyone wants for themselves, obviously. Nobody seems to want to elect team-builders. My simple-minded, very little time given to think it through observation goes back to the types of people who ventured to the "New World"- entrepreneurs, adventurers, wanderers, destitute, criminals, etc. Stir that pot, season it a bit, and voilà.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 17 2018, @09:55PM
Are you aware of the fact that government and economic systems can exist in forms that partly follow one philosophy and partly others? There aren't just a pile of pre-packaged policies to choose from sitting on the shelves like different brands of detergent.
(Score: 2) by archfeld on Saturday August 18 2018, @07:16AM (1 child)
We want basic utilities that provide the structure for what most would call a 1st world nation, and were originally paid for out of our tax dollars, to be available without a corporation raping and gouging everyone for as much money as possible, while providing as little service as possible. Power, water, sewage, garbage, internet, phone, roads, fire and rescue. Let the open market determine other things. I happen to live in an area where fire service is a subscription based thing. The equipment is bought and paid for out of my tax dollars, and yet to be serviced by said equipment I have to pay a yearly subscription fee. How is that fair, or to be considered socialism ?
For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday August 18 2018, @11:46AM
" fire service is a subscription based thing. The equipment is bought and paid for out of my tax dollars, and yet to be serviced by said equipment I have to pay a yearly subscription fee. How is that fair, or to be considered socialism ?"
Sounds like our health care system in Canada, but we're considered socialists (even though your military has the same system).
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---