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@HalSinger and @KarlBode are 100% right.
There are 2 sides to our national #Broadband problem:
(a) access to high speed tech
(b) availability of competition
Any BB policy proposal must consider both dimensions
1/10 https://twitter.com/HalSinger/status/1294646661797552129
There are 2 sides to our national #Broadband problem:
(a) access to high speed tech
(b) availability of competition
Any BB policy proposal must consider both dimensions
1/10 https://twitter.com/HalSinger/status/1294646661797552129
BB is fundamental infrastructure. People's livelihoods depend on fair and reasonable Internet service.
In my research on BB in California, I calculated $4B (yes, billion) overpaid annually by consumers in the state because of weak competition
2/10 https://medium.com/@todd.achilles/the-social-cost-of-weak-broadband-competition-in-california-e066d1383392
In my research on BB in California, I calculated $4B (yes, billion) overpaid annually by consumers in the state because of weak competition
2/10 https://medium.com/@todd.achilles/the-social-cost-of-weak-broadband-competition-in-california-e066d1383392
Calif has two big broadband issues:
1) low income and low density regions (Central Valley, N. Calif) have slow BB tech;
2) the rest of Cal have limited provider options and weak competition
In the LA DMA (2nd largest in US), 97% of homes lack BB choice above 100Mbps.
3/10
1) low income and low density regions (Central Valley, N. Calif) have slow BB tech;
2) the rest of Cal have limited provider options and weak competition
In the LA DMA (2nd largest in US), 97% of homes lack BB choice above 100Mbps.
3/10
In the LA market, the incumbent phone company, Frontier, is a disaster that has falling into bankruptcy. That leaves broadband up to the cablecos.
Guess how many census tracts in LA are served by two cablecos?
A: zero
Hey, why compete when you can extract!
4/10
Guess how many census tracts in LA are served by two cablecos?
A: zero
Hey, why compete when you can extract!
4/10
In my home state of Idaho it's a different dynamic
The Boise metro is dominated by CableOne (dba sparklight) - the first post-TV cableco. CenturyLink is a weak competitor in most parts
CableOne uses their market power to restrict supply by aggressively applying data caps
5/10
The Boise metro is dominated by CableOne (dba sparklight) - the first post-TV cableco. CenturyLink is a weak competitor in most parts
CableOne uses their market power to restrict supply by aggressively applying data caps
5/10
So consumers in the Treasure Valley overpay for BB because of weak competition
Pretty much the rest of ID is rural and low density. BB tech is slow with a few exceptions: rural co-ops or muni networks
Out-of-state providers stink
Ammon, ID is our shining city on the hill
6/10
Pretty much the rest of ID is rural and low density. BB tech is slow with a few exceptions: rural co-ops or muni networks
Out-of-state providers stink
Ammon, ID is our shining city on the hill
6/10
@AmmonMayor has built a world class, wholesale FTTH network where retail ISPs compete. What do homeowners pay for 100Mbps? ~$40 with city fees. 1GB? ~$50. No data caps.
For 1GB, CableOne charges $125 + $10 modem rental
Ammon solved for both tech and competition
7/10
For 1GB, CableOne charges $125 + $10 modem rental
Ammon solved for both tech and competition
7/10
The moral of the story is: it's time to separate network from provider. Cablecos serving areas with weak competition must be obligated to open their networks to competitive ISPs.
And we should be doing everything we can to promote more muni networks like #AmmonFiber
8/10
And we should be doing everything we can to promote more muni networks like #AmmonFiber
8/10
It's a fool's errand to rely on out-of-state corps to invest in true broadband in low density #Idaho where the network economics are marginal. Remove the profit incentive and let co-ops and munis do what they do best: build infrastructure to serve their citizens
#idpol
9/10
#idpol
9/10
