Just sent a letter to my Congressman:
Would you like to pay $50 MORE per month for Internet/TV than you already are? That question is up for grabs this year as Congress considers waiving Net Neutrality.
This really is a HUGE deal folks. If you don't pay attention, it will cost you BOATLOADS of money over the next ten years. In fact, enough to buy a small boat.
Dear Congressman X:
Comcast is ripping off its customers in Colorado Springs BIG TIME. I am writing you because I strongly suspect they're ripping off their customers all over the United States.
Because it's an oligarchy, with huge barriers to entry, they're getting away with what's known as "covert collusion." No, they don't get together with Verizon or Centurylink officers over a cup of coffee and set prices. They do, however, engage in a visual arbitrage, where both companies know that if they engage in a price war, both will loose.
So, they do the opposite: If a competitor raises prices, they'll raise prices to match. If a competitor offers more deals, they'll do the same. But if a competitor lowers prices...
Therein lies the problem. Even though Moore's law holds true today, in that advances in technology results either twice the bandwidth or half the price every 1.5 years, Comcast, Verizon, and Centurylink NEVER lower prices.
Furthermore, they DO engage in collusion; just not in a manner which can be detected.
Here's an example:
2009: 25 Mbps Internet + IP Phone cost me $45 a month
2014: 25 Mbps Internet + NOTHING costs $70 a month
According to the U.S. Government's Bureau of Labor and Statistics, $45 in 2009 had the same buying power as $49.99 does today.
That's inflation.
Given both Moore's law and inflation, I should be paying $50 a month for 100 Mbps.
That's what they're paying in Houston, Texas. Then again, with 12 ISPs to choose from, the market structure is one of monopolistic competition, not one of oligarchy with covert collusion sucking the life blood out of anyone who wants to remain connected.
And yes, that $70 per month is for BASIC Internet; nothing else.
The 55% price jack Comcast implemented is NOT inflation. It's a RIPOFF.
Now, Comcast/Xfinity, Verizon, Centurylink, AT&T, and the other ISPs are pressuring Congress to throw Net Neutrality out the window.
Are they stark, raving mad? Do they have any idea what that'll do to competition? Minor sites will be choked, all right - TO DEATH. They won't be able to get through AT ALL.
Congressman X, I am asking you to please support Net Neutrality to the fullest. Force the ISPs to compete on a level playing field. They're already making massive profits at the expense of the people, particularly for those of us living in near-monopolistic markets. They do NOT own the Internet. They only only the last couple of miles. The Internet was paid for by OUR tax dollars.
We the People expect and deserve the Internet to remain free from manipulative data-throttling tactics employed by those who're already filthy rich by overcharging us in near-monopoly environments.
Sincerely...
