Data Caps... the FCCs' gonna "talk about it"

[Maxmars]

I don't know how much interest there is here about this subject, but since it is "on the radar" of the FCC, maybe we should talk about it too.

From ARSTechinca: Please ban data caps, Internet users tell FCC
Subtitled: FCC docket draws anger at ISPs and mockery of Republican's data/coffee analogy.

Before I enter the fray, I want to point out an unfortunately stupid and telling analogy by an industry-supporting politician....

Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington last week argued that regulating data caps would be akin to mandating free coffee refills:

Suppose we were a different FCC, the Federal Coffee Commission, and rather than regulating the price of coffee (which we have vowed not to do), we instead implement a regulation whereby consumers are entitled to free refills on their coffees. What effects might follow? Well, I predict three things could happen: either cafés stop serving small coffees, or cafés charge a lot more for small coffees, or cafés charge a little more for all coffees.

Were I an advising consultant of the commissioner, I would have slapped him on the back of the head immediately after the utterance.

1. Why not just admit that you are subject to lobbying control, and a puppet mouthpiece for their interest?
   
2. Our "vow" not to mandate the prices that ISPs set, was always contingent on their practices being 'reasonable' as ALL such "vows" are.  No one should get a 'free ride' to set prices like this.
   
3. Please don't 'volunteer' your idiocy... ISPs are NOT going to simply stop services if they don't "get their way." 
   

Of course, the industry allies are all hard at work to create a narrative featuring service providers operating in the manner of monopolies (every capitalists wet-dream.)

It started with justifying "throttling," as if data were a measurable physical object, rather than a virtual concept... now they fight to squeeze internet users like 'subjects' of their great largesse.

What's next... a mandatory "gratitude" requirement? "Users must pay and be grateful." 

[ArMaP]

When I first got broadband Internet we had a maximum allowed (I don't remember how much, but I think I still my listings from that time with how much I had used for month) and the market was limited to mostly two providers.

When more people got Internet access and more providers appeared the limits were removed, now only mobile phones' data has limits, usually 10 GB or so per month.

Edited to add that the limit on my provider ended on March 2007m and the limits were different for national and international access. Looking at my listings I see that my international data transfers were always below 1 GB, so I suppose that was the limit.

[pianopraze]

Before I enter the fray, I want to point out an unfortunately stupid and telling analogy by an industry-supporting politician....

Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington last week argued that regulating data caps would be akin to mandating free coffee refills:

Reason 7,693,746 I’m not Republican.

Both sides are idiots bought and paid for by their lobbyists.

 

[Maxmars]

Reason 7,693,746 I’m not Republican.

Both sides are idiots bought and paid for by their lobbyists.

 

One reason is enough to not cling to any party... the other 7,693,745 are overkill. 

I am one of those who believe that there is no true "two political party duopoly;" it's actually one party with two differently colored 'team' jerseys that they swap out and trade as required.

It's why they are so interested in "loyalty oaths" and/or gate-keeping efforts.

It's also why corporate labeling is their 'tell.'

[jaded]

The pricing by ISP's has rocketed exponentially.
In the last 10yrs it's gone from $35 bucks to almost $100 for just decent quality broadband. No company is offering the old two yr deals and rural people still routinely have dropped service multiple times a day. 

The ISP's are taking the same route the big hospital systems did 20 years ago going full profit with no checks & balances while still piggybacking on the phone systems/cable companies infrastructure. 

Xfinity's least costly option puts you right back into the good old days of AOL loading times. Guessing this marketing works cause the newer generations never experienced clicking on a website, getting up to have a cup of coffee an mow the lawn cause
You got time!
Not even talking gamer-speed juice. Just regular usage. The other companies are the same, so not picking on Xfinity. 
The FCC really needs to pull it's head out. Internet is a part of society now an just like electric or clean water or roads playing games with it isn't a option.

[Maxmars]

Yeah, it has become dismal.  I also "know" of Xfinity well... and exactly how they have successfully achieved "craptacularity!"

But you are also right in that it is a component of the industry now... apparently nobody can 'get it right' without demanding 'stupid money' for what should be nominally acceptable capabilities.

[ArMaP]

The FCC really needs to pull it's head out. Internet is a part of society now an just like electric or clean water or roads playing games with it isn't a option.

I don't know how things are in the US, but in Portugal, the only way of filing you tax is by the Internet, as are all other fiscal obligations, so Internet is really a necessity for companies and many individuals.