# Why do we allow monopilies for high speed internet access? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 2, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377 "2014-11-02T17:40:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377/41 "2014-11-10T17:22:07Z")
Huh. Obama, the guy who appointed Tom Wheeler, Comcast stooge, to be FCC chair, [now wants the FCC to regulate ISPs under title 2](http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/10/7185933/fcc-should-reclassify-internet-as-utility-obama-says) as a utility. That would be a huge step in the right direction. Although the FCC is independent and can ignore him. Makes me wonder if it’s a wink wink nudge nudge I’ll say the populist thing, then you screw the population sort of deal. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377/42 "2014-11-11T04:34:38Z")
I have at least 4 major providers where I live in the Midwest, and I guess I am thankful for that- and pleasantly surprised based on all the complaints I hear about. I switch every time I get a better offer. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377/43 "2014-11-11T05:11:38Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I have at least 4 major providers where I live in the Midwest, and I guess I am thankful for that- and pleasantly surprised based on all the complaints I hear about. I switch every time I get a better offer. I live in Chicago and in theory I have multiple options. In reality I have Comcast, RCN and AT&T. AT&T is a DSL service which I used to have and like. Then they “upgraded” me to their new “whatever its name is fancy coherent system” and it became a colossal mess. Was going down regularly, speeds were all over the place but mostly shitty. We had numerous techs visit (also a tech savvy household). Nothing worked. Just turned to complete shit from not bad. So we moved to Comcast. I despise Comcast but we bought business service from them and it works great. No problems at all. Just costs us a shitload of money. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377/44 "2014-11-12T03:07:21Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I live in Chicago and in theory I have multiple options. > > In reality I have Comcast, RCN and AT&T. The issue there is that you have options - you just don’t like them. Now, I am about the last person to defend Comcast. I _despise_ Comcast. But it strikes me that what people want is to have super-high-speed broadband available for free with no service problems. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377/45 "2014-11-12T04:29:45Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > The issue there is that you have options - you just don’t like them. > > Now, I am about the last person to defend Comcast. I _despise_ Comcast. But it strikes me that what people want is to have super-high-speed broadband available for free with no service problems. My choices are not much of a choice. That I have even this much choice is likely only due to living in a major metropolitan area. Many places in the US have less or no choice (less choice in this case being two to choose from). And look at my choices. AT&T is not really equivalent. It is DSL which is technologically incapable of the speeds cable can enjoy. As for my choice between RCN and Comcast…well, not much of a choice. You’d _think_ they’d be in a price war for customers but that never happens. They are bizarrely similar in their offerings. And no, I do NOT want free internet access (well ok…sure…that’d be nice but I know nothing is free and one way or another I’ll pay for it and I am fine paying for services I use). What I want is real competition that gives the US broadband internet access that is faster and cheaper. You know…[like most other countries in the world already have.](http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24528383) ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377/46 "2014-11-13T20:38:55Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > My choices are not much of a choice. That I have even this much choice is likely only due to living in a major metropolitan area. Many places in the US have less or no choice (less choice in this case being two to choose from). > > And look at my choices. AT&T is not really equivalent. It is DSL which is technologically incapable of the speeds cable can enjoy. > > As for my choice between RCN and Comcast…well, not much of a choice. You’d _think_ they’d be in a price war for customers but that never happens. They are bizarrely similar in their offerings. > > And no, I do NOT want free internet access (well ok…sure…that’d be nice but I know nothing is free and one way or another I’ll pay for it and I am fine paying for services I use). > > What I want is real competition that gives the US broadband internet access that is faster and cheaper. You know…[like most other countries in the world already have.](http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24528383) When is the last time you checked with RCN? I switched over from Comcast with similar speed for a significant price reduction. Same thing when I migrated my phone service over from AT&T. Frankly, I’d have switched even for similar pricing, because RCN’s customer service stomps all over Comcast’s. Plus, about a month ago RCN upped my download speed at no additional charge. Now, I’m not naive enough to think that there isn’t a price increase coming somewhere down the line, but I’m very happy with RCN right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-allow-monopilies-for-high-speed-internet-access/703377.md?page=2)