FCC is trying to end net neutrality. This is what it can look like.

[Pemalite]

Zkuq said:

Pemalite said:

According to the Australian Beureau of Statistics I have access to 419 Internet Service Providers (With 77~ being large companies), which all have access to the same physical infrastructure.
So I am pretty sure competition in my case will ensure such a thing never happens.

People do need to complain until the cows come home... Complaints is what has brought us to the point where companies like EA are taking a long hard look at Micro-transactions, people are voting with their wallets and their voices and it's working.

It doesn't seem as good in the US though, unless this Wikipedia article about telecom companies and this Wikipedia article about broadband providers are missing something essential. It seems there's a relatively limited amount of nation-wide service providers, and I doubt local service providers can really make much of a mark in the big picture unless the situation is absolutely horrible. Of course in your case the situation sounds good, this thread seems to be more about the US.

Well. The main difference in the USA is that your telecom companies own the infrastructure... So they can lock out competitors almost geographically.

In Australia we have one company who owns all the infrastructure, aka. NBN Co... And all internet providers are given equal treatment for access to that  network. NBN Co is also not allowed to sell internet connections directly to consumers, thus preventing them from becoming a monopoly.

Of course with a monopoly on the infrastructure you would assume infrastructure access costs would be higher, but NBN Co still has to compete with mobile carriers. (Namely Telstra and Optus) who also retail their mobile networks to all other providers, so that keeps them in check.

Basically in the USA's attempt to create and stimulate competition in telecommunications, you have done the complete reverse which ultimately has led you to this point.