52: Necessary But Not Sufficient

ISP Competition

The landscape of ISP competition in the U.S. is marked by limited choices and significant consolidation. Marco Arment highlights how major players like Comcast and Time Warner rarely compete directly, leading to a lack of price competition and consumer choice 1. This consolidation raises concerns about the power these companies wield over net neutrality and broadband access. Casey Liss notes the rarity of having multiple ISP options, emphasizing the economic barriers to choosing different providers for various services 1.

The number of companies that are representing the entire connected us is shrinking. And these are like two of the biggest ones that are now going to become one. And that's pretty bad.

--- Marco Arment

The dynamics between cable companies further complicate the issue, with agreements like the one between Verizon and Comcast limiting expansion and competition 2.

   

Consumer Experiences

Real-life consumer experiences with ISPs often highlight significant issues with customer service and reliability. John Siracusa shares his frustrations with Comcast, citing poor service and billing errors as common problems 3. He contrasts this with his positive experiences with Fios, where issues are resolved more efficiently 3. Marco Arment adds that in densely populated areas like Manhattan, internet service is often oversold, leading to poor performance 4.

I cannot even begin to tell you how terrible Comcast is.

--- John Siracusa

These experiences underscore the need for more competition and better service standards in the ISP industry.

   

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality remains a critical issue in the context of ISP practices in the U.S. Casey Liss discusses how some countries have laws preventing companies from owning both the wires and the ISP, which could improve competition and service quality 5. However, in the U.S., the lack of such regulations allows companies like Comcast to consolidate power, potentially leading to higher prices and reduced service quality. Marco Arment points out the unusual nature of competition in the U.S., where consumers rarely have multiple cable company options 5.

We need sane laws on tech, and we won't get it because we're in America.

--- Casey Liss

This situation underscores the importance of regulatory measures to ensure fair competition and protect consumer interests.