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Telcos, Cable Companies Come Under Fire For Antitrust Actions
from the trouble-in-monopoly-land dept
As we've stated (yes, ad nauseum by this point), the real issue in the net neutrality/broadband world is the lack of real competition in the space. The telcos and their lobbyists hit back claiming that there's "plenty" of competition -- and usually trot out the FCC's misleading stats that only look at broadband on at the zip code level (so if a provider offers broadband to a single house in a zip code, the stats claim it offers it to all houses in that zip code). There's also a question about whether or not two competitors (telco and cable, in most cases) represent real competition or not. However, it appears that both telcos and cable companies are facing legal challenges concerning monopolistic behavior in various markets. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that accuses the telcos of collusion in not competing in local markets following the Telecom Act of 1996. That Act was supposed to encourage competition, though it's since been gutted. However, even when it was fully in place, the regional telcos still chose not to move to get into the markets that the others ran -- thereby leaving them each with a local monopoly. The telcos claim that since there's no evidence of overt collusion, there's no truth to the collusion claim. Meanwhile, in the cable world, Arizona is looking at fining Cox $2 million for arranging special deals that would prevent any competitors (including telcos) from offering service in new developments. So, whether or not you believe that there really is a competitive market in these services -- it certainly looks like the companies in this space are doing everything they can to keep as monopolistic a position as possible.
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stuck in streetsboro
It doesn't stop there. I'm forced to use their cable company-CableNet and then if I want expanded service, I HAVE to use DirecTV. But, I can't go directly through DirecTV for my equipment--I've got to go through CableNet to purchase my DirecTV equipment and service package! I'm also not allowed to have my own satellite dish--I've got to hook my service up through the satellite dish hosted by CableNet! Talk about monopolizing the service(s)!
I have to work from home on occassion and I can't because this ISP is terrible. I'm lucky when I get an upload speed of 541kbps and a download speed of 197kbps--and the company technician says this is good/normal!! I was absolutely agog when this guy stood in my living room and told me that this connection speed was pretty good. HUH??!!
Anyway, I'd like to see someone step in and break up this monopoly these people have going on. It's frustrating to say the least.
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Supreme rip off - Telcos try to find a haven!
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Customer Service?
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Re: stuck in streetsboro
The reason they think that's a good speed is because they don't know better. These are not technical people...they are people who are trained to do only that particular job for that particular company. I know the technicians at my local ISP couldn't even hook the phone line up to the DSL modem at my house. Imagine my horror when I come home from work to find out that the tech jammed the telephone line into my wireless router!
The problem is that they take people who are probably very good at the jobs they usually do (i.e. cable television repair-person or telephone repair-person), then drop them into a position that requires them to learn a whole new skill expecting them to understand what is going on without any serious training. The guy who thought that was a good speed probably believed that since it was better than his dialup, it must be great.
No one will stop a monopolistic business structure without incentive, either good or bad. If they aren't being called on it, then great! They can charge what they like. If they are given a list of good things that will happen if they open up to a bit of competition, then they will do that (assuming the good things are better than the benifits of being a monopoly). If someone says "Bad monopoly! Quit trying to weasle your way into other markets by using your super monopoly powers!", then it depends on how seriously the monopoly takes the threat, and what they stand to lose. This means that they will stay who they are as long as that is gives the greatest bottom line, or switch to whatever helps their business (and their pocketbook) the most.
At least, that's what greedy bastards like myself would do.
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A compromise
Here in hawaii we have Maximum Point of Entry laws meaning that the telco owns the line all the way to it's endpoint. They cannot cut the lines of other service providers, however. I spend countless hours filing complaints here with the PUC and so on. I hope they clean up this mess because it really is bothersome and costly to repair what the monopoly screws up.
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Re: stuck in streetsboro
Not really sure thats the same thing as the ISPs colluding to not compete (although, I will agree, it has the same frustrating effects). It sounds like the problem that you are suffering through is being caused by the terms of your lease, etc. Not exactly the same issue, but like I said, it does sound frustrating.
The most frustrating thing, I believe, is that Techdirt has consistently been correct in that the problem in this debate is a lack of competition, and that isn't innocent. The real problem with a lack of competition is systematic, and systemic, however. We are talking about trying to maintain the democratic and shared access nature of the internet, in a society and economic system based on power structures and financial biases. It just seems unlikely to me that the internet is any different from anything else, in that, it would be able to maintain itself as something not based around a power structure.
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TELCOM and Monopoly
This latest petroleum murger has further allowed the BIG FOUR Companies to dictate how much oil comes out of the ground, gets distilled into gas and other products, and their movement to the market. People in Arizona are paying sky high prices for gas at the pump and electricity for their homes. While there are a host of ways to communicate with each other. Don't be fooled by what seems to be monopoly in communications when the very way you transport yourself is severly at risk.
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Re: stuck in streetsboro
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Re: Re: stuck in streetsboro
Talk about stifiling competition. I have to fight tooth and nail to get them (the monopoly) to clean up the conduits so we can even have any competition. It's ridiculous.
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Re: stuck in streetsboro
My name is Peter Kusner and I am the President of My Esuite. I would love to have the oppertunity to speak with you about your slow speeds.
We provide 3 megs of bandwidth at your complex and only you and your neighbors have access. If you are having issues I would be happy to come check it out myself and try to make your surfing experience better.
We do our best to provide extrordinary customer service.
Please contact me at 440-519-3339 ext 3331
Peter
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter
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Re:
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More Streetsboro Woes
http://codebetter.com/blogs/eric.wise/archive/2005/01/13/44186.aspx
Peace
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Re: stuck in streetsboro
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Re: Re: stuck in streetsboro
Here's hoping they get something better in. I'm not going back to dial-up but I'm seriously considering a Verizon Aircard. It's faster than dial-up (not much though) and at least it's stable.
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Re: stuck in streetsboro
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Today i finally called my apartment complex and complained about My Esuite and the apartment manager told me to call the President of My Esuite Peter Kusner. I googled his name and found this site and some others where people are having the same problem as me!! I called Peter today and complained and supposedly there is some technician coming out to my apartment today to try to fix the problem. We will see what happens. Why cant i choose my ISP, i hate getting stuck with one and getting stuck with a crappy one at that. In my old apartment i had Cox Cable cable internet and i loved it and it cost me $9.99 a month. I never had any problems with it..then i move and get stuck with this crap. Anyone live in Foxmoor in Parma Heights, OH?
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Re:
I had them coming in to check the wiring of the apartment unit. They didn't check the wiring and instead tried to get into my PC's. They couldn't (I lock my PC's) so instead they reset my router to factory defaults and claimed they fixed it. One of the girls in the managment office had problems connecting to her web mail so the tech came in and uninstalled all the virus protection and firewalls. Took about an hour to get so many virus's and spyware that the system had to be reloaded.
It's like all the fsk-ups in the world got together and created a company.
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Re: Re: stuck in streetsboro
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Re: parma heights
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MyESuite sucks!!!!
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Tech Support and other concerns
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How is this company still doing business
This company is obviously losing more customers than gaining them. They need to take better care of their customers.
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Re: How is this company still doing business
Shady Lake is within the CO for SBC. All it needs is the switch. I would strongly urge anyone to contact the leasing office to let them know you want another high speed provider.
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MyEsuite Wireless behind the scenes
There is a contract involved at the complexes that prevent other ISP's from getting in. I don't know the whole story but it exists.
The most problematic complex has to be the Hamptons. It seems like a small surge takes it out too easily. Stability needs to be put into this complex.
Stay clear from MyEsuite Wireless.....if you have a good experience with them--consider yourself one of the lucky customers.
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Famous customer's line
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I want to cancel, but I don't have their new number
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My Esuites
I can't stream video.
I can't play any online games
I can't download patches over 20-30 megs without getting timeouts.
If I have updates I have to let it update overnight because downloading a 100 meg file takes 5-6 hours or more and I have to download the patches via Bit torrent because of the time outs.
I can make it google and apparently this blog.
I tried calling tech support and they were going to send a guy but he never showed(that's twice).
It's not my pc, it's not my router, it's not my home network.
I tried sending some 1452 size non fragmented packets to flood the network and test the connection 10-12% packet loss. I sent 500 byte packets and it was the same.
If it isn't from a teleco it's usally not good.
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APARTMENT CABLE
I having same problems above My fiances and I just moved into apartment complex . we neve asked the questions of cable dsl we are now living in complex that has cable internet all the above ,,
the new apartment dosent have cable we have to use cable net its sems to be junking system .
WHY DOSES ON APARTMENT COXPLEX HAS IT AND THE OTHER DONT AD NIT IN THE SAME LOCATION
PEOPLE LETS GET INTO TOGETHER
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APARTMENT CABLE
I having same problems above My fiances and I just moved into apartment complex . we neve asked the questions of cable dsl we are now living in complex that has cable internet all the above ,,
the new apartment dosent have cable we have to use cable net its sems to be junking system .
WHY DOSES ON APARTMENT COXPLEX HAS IT AND THE OTHER DONT ADN IT IN THE SAME LOCATION
PEOPLE LETS GET INTO TOGETHER
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Horrible Internet & Cable service...
Chk these -
http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=16693607&sortreviews=1&from=1#reviews
and
http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Sheboygan-Oak-Creek-Apartments-781995.html
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another collusion...
This ensures that the telcos have no competition with Vonage of MagicJack, etc. Coincidence? The old protection racket?
Tivo's not talking unless they're made to.
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Re: Customer Service?
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Surprise surprise
Avoid like the plague. BTW Pete, if you see this, the best thing you ever did was lay me off. I'm in much better shape, financially, educationally, emotionally, and overall in life, since I left your piece of crap company.
Have a nice day. :-)
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Gainesville Apartments and Condominiums Guide: Apartments and Condos for rent - Home
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