# Comcast/Verizon/Time Warner Internet Monopolies?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comcast-verizon-time-warner-internet-monopolies/593553>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 21, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comcast-verizon-time-warner-internet-monopolies/593553 "2011-08-21T18:39:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comcast-verizon-time-warner-internet-monopolies/593553/21 "2011-08-22T04:00:14Z")

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> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> DSL competes with Cable and FIOS.  
> FIOS competes with DSL and Cable.  
> Cable competes with DSL and FIOS.
> 
> It doesn’t matter that they’re not EXACTLY the same. They’re functionally the same.

Well, in 1979, my Anderson-Jacobsen 110 baud modem was also functionally the same…

I’ve had two different DSL providers, Comcast HSI and now FiOS. DSL just cannot compete - so the only real competition is in the FiOS service areas, which are few and far between.

Back to the OP, HSI is local monopoly in most areas.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comcast-verizon-time-warner-internet-monopolies/593553/22 "2011-08-22T04:01:32Z")

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> [@jasg](#):
>
> Well, in 1979, my Anderson-Jacobsen 110 baud modem was also functionally the same…

No, it’s not. A modem is a low speed Internet connection. It is not the same as an “always on” high speed Internet connection.

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