[sllug-members]: Comcast has problems

[Corey Edwards]

On Wed, 2007-01-24 at 18:16 -0700, Lonnie Olson wrote:
> > And the ubiquitous nature of satellite Internet means almost nothing
> > because most of the time upstream is still through a modem, and even if
> > it isn't, the lag is horrendous.  I'm not even talking about things that
> > require low latency; even browsing a webpage feels like you're slogging
> > through molasses.
> > 
> > Yeah, it's something the same way a shoe with a hole in it is something.
> 
> Agreed, that is why I said "almost".  Satellite doesn't quite count.

2000ms round trip time? Not only does that not count, that's bordering
absurd.

> This means that one customer's complaint (since it reflects that of many 
> other silent ones as well) can influence choice of backbone providers. 
> Malicious backbone providers will lose clients.  They *need* Google and 
> Yahoo just as much as Google and Yahoo *need* them.

What that means is that there are responsible ISPs out there. People who
have a clue and do get it. But such is not the case for every ISP. One
of the things I often ponder is how a company full of otherwise decent
people can stop caring about its customers. Large companies just seem to
breed that behavior. So I don't believe that just because customers
complain that companies will change their behavior. You need not look
further than the major record labels who seem to deceive themselves into
a certain world view despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

> I don't see a need for legislation right now, but I am not completely 
> opposed to it.  As long as there is choice, it isn't necessary.  When 
> that choice is gone, legislation will be necessary.

Ideally, I think you're correct. Despite the fact that currently DSL is
a pretty open game where customers are coming out on top, don't think
for a second that the ILECs wouldn't cut off all those competing ISPs
and laugh all the way to the bank.

I'm really starting to be enamored with the idea of municipally owned
fiber open to any ISP. That's its own can of worms, but I think it's got
real potential.

Corey